Elections

Eric Pickles: To ask the hon. Member for South West Devon, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission what guidance the Electoral Commission has issued on when electoral returning officers should commence general election counts.

Gary Streeter: The Electoral Commission informs me that it has written to all Returning Officers, advising that it is entirely appropriate for them, as independent statutory officers, to decide to hold the count on Friday if they are clear that this is necessary to ensure an accurate result. Returning Officers have also been advised to consider any relevant local factors, such as geography, availability of staff and venues, the security of the ballot boxes and the volume and management of postal votes as part of the decision-making process. The next general election will, for example, be the first general election at which new security checks on postal votes will need to be conducted, and this will introduce an additional stage in the process.

Elections

Eric Pickles: To ask the hon. Member for South West Devon, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission what guidance the Electoral Commission has given to electoral returning officers on political party representatives or counting agents taking tallies of validated votes during an election count.

Gary Streeter: The Electoral Commission informs me that its September 2009 planning guidance for Returning Officers and the recently published full guidance manual for UK Parliamentary (Acting) Returning Officers advise that no part of the count should take place out of the sight of candidates and agents and that procedures should be transparent at all times.
	The Commission recognises the important role carried out by candidates and agents in scrutinising the verification and counting processes. Candidates and agents may keep a tally of valid votes at the count.

Elections

Eric Pickles: To ask the hon. Member for South West Devon, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission what discussions the Electoral Commission has had with Ofcom on its proposals for the number of party political broadcasts allocated to minority parties.

Gary Streeter: The Electoral Commission informs me that Ofcom consulted the Commission in June 2009 on changes it was considering to its Rules on Party Political and Referendum Broadcasts. The Commission set out its views in a letter to Ofcom on 17 July 2009, including that there should be more detailed guidelines for determining the number of broadcasts to be offered to qualifying parties. The Commission wrote again to Ofcom on 20 November 2009 during the formal consultation on the proposed new Rules, welcoming proposed changes.
	Copies of these letters have been placed in the Library of the House and are available on the Commission's website at:
	www.electoralcommission.org.uk

Elections

Eric Pickles: To ask the hon. Member for South West Devon, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission what information the Electoral Commission holds on the number of postal ballot papers handed in on polling day in each of the last five by-elections.

Gary Streeter: The Electoral Commission informs me that returning officers are not required to keep records of the number of postal ballot packs handed in at polling stations on polling day. However, the returning officers for the last five UK parliamentary by-elections have provided the following estimates of the number of postal ballot packs handed in at polling stations on polling day:
	
		
			  Constituency  Date  Number of postal ballot packs 
			 Glasgow, North-East 12 November 2009 270 
			 Norwich, North 23 July 2009 180 
			 Glenrothes 6 November 2008 125 
			 Glasgow, East 24 July 2008 116 
			 Haltemprice and Howden 10 July 2008 180

Elections

John Pugh: To ask the hon. Member for South West Devon, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission how many electoral commissioners have been an electoral  (a) candidate or agent and  (b) returning officer.

Gary Streeter: The Electoral Commission informs me that none of the current Electoral Commissioners have been an electoral candidate or agent, and one commissioner has been a returning officer.
	Electoral Commissioners are appointed under the Political Parties, Referendums and Elections Act 2000 (part 1 section 3), as amended by the Political Parties and Elections (PPE) Act 2009. Before the passage of the PPE Act, the law disqualified people who had been actively involved in political parties in the previous 10 years from office as a Commissioner. The law now provides for four new Commissioners to be appointed following nomination by political parties, and without that disqualification. For the remaining Commissioners, the time ban period has been reduced from 10 to five years.

Electoral Commission

Eric Pickles: To ask the hon. Member for South West Devon, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission with reference to the answer of 21 October 2009,  Official Report, column 1439W, on elections: investigations, how long the Electoral Commission's investigation into 5th Avenue Partners took; and what steps the Electoral Commission is taking to improve the efficiency of its investigations.

Gary Streeter: The Electoral Commission informs me that its investigation into 5th Avenue Partners took approximately two years and 10 months-excluding a 20-month period from March 2007 to November 2008, when it suspended its inquiries at the request of City of London police.
	The Commission further informs me that since this investigation was opened, it has established strict time targets for key phases of its enforcement work. In 2009, the Commission met its targets of conducting 90 per cent. of initial case assessments within five working days, and 90 per cent. of case reviews within 90 days. The Commission also aims to complete 90 per cent. of its investigations within six months and following questions from the Speaker's Committee, has set a target from 2010-11 of completing all its investigations within one year. The Commission has instituted enhanced case planning and supervision to ensure that these targets are met.

European Parliament

Eric Pickles: To ask the hon. Member for South West Devon, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission to what region the Electoral Commission plans to allocate the UK's additional European Parliament seat following the ratification of the Treaty of Lisbon.

Gary Streeter: The Electoral Commission informs me that it has not yet recommended which of the 12 UK electoral regions should receive the additional European Parliament seat, and can only do so following receipt of a statutory direction from the Secretary of State for Justice.

Prisoners Transfers

Alan Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice when he expects to publish the report into transfer of prisoners from HM Prison Brixton prior to inspections or security audits.

Maria Eagle: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Justice and Lord Chancellor (Jack Straw) informed the House during his oral statement on 20 October 2009,  Official Report, columns 777-83, that if any evidence emerges from the analysis of transfer of prisoners prior to inspection he would update the House.

Farms: Inspections

James Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs with reference to the answer of 15 October 2009,  Official Report, column 1004W, on farm inspections, against which regulations compliance is monitored by each inspection body.

Huw Irranca-Davies: The information is as follow:
	 Rural Payments Agency
	(Basic Conditions) Regulations 1997 (SI 1997/189):
	Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979
	Animal Health Act 1981
	Cattle Identification Regulations 2007 (SI 2007/529)
	Commission Regulation (EC) No. 509/1999
	Commission Regulation (EC) No. 2772/95
	Commission regulation (EC) No. 911/2004
	Conservation (Natural Habitats, &c.) Regulations 1994 (SI 1994 2716)
	Conservation (Natural Habitats, &c.) Regulations 1994 (SI 1994/2716)
	Control of Pesticides Regulations 1986 (SI 1986/1510):
	Council Directive 2000/75/EC
	Council Directive 2003/85/EC
	Council Directive 79/409/EEC
	Council Directive 80/68/EEC
	Council Directive 86/278/EEC
	Council Directive 91/414/EEC
	Council Directive 91/629/EEC
	Council Directive 91/630/EEC
	Council Directive 91/676/EEC
	Council Directive 92/102/EEC
	Council Directive 92/119/EEC
	Council Directive 92/43/EEC
	Council Directive 96/22/ EC
	Council Directive 98/58/EC of 20 July 1998
	Council Regulation (EC) No. 1257/1999
	Council Regulation,(EC) No. 1698/2005
	Council Regulation (EC) No. 1968/2005 (OJ No. L 277, 21.10.2005, p. 1)
	Council Regulation (EC) No. 1968/2005 (OJ No. L 277, 21.10.2005, p. 1)
	Council Regulation (EC) No. 2078/92
	Council Regulation (EC) No. 21/2004
	Council Regulation (EC) No. 473/2009 (OJ No. L 144, 9.6.2009, p. 8)
	Council Regulation (EC) No. 473/2009 (OJ No. L 144, 9.6.2009, p. 8)
	Countryside Act 1968
	)
	Energy Crops Regulations 2000
	Entry Level Agri-Environment Scheme (Pilot) (England) Regulations 2003
	Environmental Impact Assessment (England)(No. 2) Regulations 2006
	Environmental Impact Assessment (Forestry) (England and Wales) Regulations 1999
	Environmental Protection Act 1990
	Feed (Hygiene and Enforcement) (England) Regulations 2005 (SI 2005/3280)
	Food Hygiene (England) Regulations 2006 (SI 2006/14)
	Forestry Act 1967
	Game Act 1831
	General Food Regulations 2004 (SI 2004/3279)
	)
	Hedgerows Regulations 1997
	Highways Act 1980-
	Mutilations (Permitted Procedures) (England) Regulations 2007 (SI 2007/1100)
	National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949
	Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act 2006
	Nitrate Pollution Prevention Regulations 2008 (SI 2349/2008)
	Pigs (Records, Identification and Movement) Order 2007 (SI 2007/642):
	Plant Protection Products Regulations 2005 (SI 2005/1435):
	Regulation (EC) No. 1760/2000
	Regulation (EC) No. 178/2002
	Regulation (EC) No. 183/2005
	Regulation (EC) No. 396/05
	Regulation (EC) No. 852/2004
	Regulation (EC) No. 853/2004
	Regulation (EEC) No. 2377/90
	Regulation 178/2002
	Regulation 83/2005
	Regulation 852/2004
	Regulation 999/2001
	SI 2000/3042
	SI 2003/838
	SI 2005/3459
	SI 2007/2003
	SI 2007/3154
	SI 2007/3304
	SI 2008/962-the Bluetongue Regulations 2008
	SI 853/2004
	The African Swine Fever (England) Order 2003 (SI 2003/2913):
	The Animals and Animal Products (Examination for Residues and Maximum Residue Limits) Regulations 1997 (SI 1997/1729:
	The Bluetongue (No. 2) Order 2007 (SI 2007/3304)
	The Cattle Plague Order 1928 (1928 No. 206)
	The Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2007 (SI 2007/3538)
	The Environmental Protection Act 1990 (waste management licences)
	The Foot and Mouth Disease (England) Order 2006 (2006/182):
	The Groundwater Regulations 1998 (SI 1998/2746)
	The Sheep and Goats (Records, Identification and Movement) (England) Order 2007 (SI 2007/3493) supplements the EC Regulation, and the provisions relating to animal identification and on-farm records apply for cross compliance purposes
	The Sludge (Use in Agriculture) Regulations 1989 (SI 1989/1263)
	The Specified Diseases (Notification) Order 1996 (SI 1996/2628):
	The Swine Vesicular Disease Order 1972 (SI 1972/1980):
	The Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies (England) Regulations 2008 (SI 2008/1881):
	The Veterinary Medicines Regulations 2007 (SI 2007/2539):
	The Water Resources Act 1991
	The Welfare of Farmed Animals (England) Regulations 2007 (SI 2007/2078)
	Town and Country Planning Act 1990
	Weeds Act 1959
	Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981
	Council Regulation (EC) No. 73/2009
	Commission Regulation (EC) No. 796/2004
	 Veterinary Medicine Directorate
	The Veterinary Medicines Regulations 2009 (these regulations were first made in 2005 and are revoked and remade annually)
	The Animals and Animal Products (Examination for Residues and Maximum Residue Limits) Regulations 1997
	 Animal Health
	Animal Health Act 1981
	Animal Health Act 2002
	Animal Welfare Act 2006
	Animal Health and Welfare Act 1984
	Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006
	Tuberculosis (England) Order 2007
	Tuberculosis (Scotland) Order 2007
	Tuberculosis (Wales) Order 2006
	Tuberculosis (Testing and Powers of Entry) (Wales) Order 2008
	Tuberculosis (Deer) Order 1989
	Tuberculosis (Deer) Notice of Intended Slaughter and Compensation Order 1989
	Welfare of Animals (Slaughter and Killing) Regulations 1995
	Welfare of Animals (Transport) (Scotland) Order 2006
	Welfare of Farmed Animals (England) Regulations 2007
	Welfare of Farmed Animals (Scotland) Regulations 2000
	Welfare of Farmed Animals (Wales) Regulations 2007
	Veterinary Medicines Regulations 2009
	The Animals and Animal Products (Examination for Residues and Maximum Residue Limits) Regulations 1997 as amended
	 Environment Agency
	The Environment Agency monitors regulatory compliance on farms using integrated visits. During farm visits EA officers assess Land Managers compliance against relevant regulations under the following regime.
	Nitrate Vulnerable Zones (Nitrates Directive)
	Environmental Permitting Regulations (EPR) (Waste and Integrated Pollution Prevention Directives)
	Exemptions from EPR Waste regulation including land-spreading
	Hazardous Waste Regulations
	Groundwater Regulations (Groundwater Daughter Directive)
	Silage, Slurry and Agricultural Fuel Oil Regulations
	Sewage Sludge Regulations
	Water Resources Act (Abstraction licensing, Consent to Discharge, avoiding pollution)
	Land Drainage Act
	Reservoirs Act

Flood Control: Finance

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what funding his Department allocated to  (a) regional development agencies and  (b) other bodies following the flooding in summer 2007 for flood prevention works; how much funding has been provided to each such body; and what criteria apply in respect of qualification for such funds.

Huw Irranca-Davies: Regional development agencies (RDAs) are financed through a single budget, a fund which pools money from all the contributing Government Departments. From this single pot, RDAs provided over £11 million support for the businesses affected in their regions, as part of the wider £136 million that Government made available to assist the affected regions and help those in greatest need. This includes funding for schools, transport and businesses. No specific funding was given to RDAs in respect of the 2007 floods.
	Spending on flood risk management across central and local government have increased from £307 million in 1996-97 to over £655 million in 2008-09, and is due to reach £715 million in 2009-10 and £780 million in 2010-11. This will bring the total spent by DEFRA, the Environment Agency and local authorities over three years to £2.15 billion. £20 million of the original £800 million for 2010-11 was brought forward into this year's budgets as part of the fiscal stimulation package announced in the 2008 pre-Budget report.
	Since the 2007 floods, DEFRA has given funding to a considerable number of bodies to plan for and reduce the risk of flooding and its impacts and ensure that communities and the essential services which supply them are protected. The sums outlined as follows represent the most significant of these funding allocations.
	The majority of the funding is through the Environment Agency which allocates funding to regional flood defence committees for both new capital schemes and to maintain existing defences on the basis of national priorities to ensure that the funding is spent in the best way possible. Delivery is managed through the Environment Agency's regional offices.
	The allocation to Environment Agency regions was £495.3 million in 2008-09 and £548.6 million in 2009-10.
	In April 2006 the Environment Agency took on responsibility for the administration of capital grants payable to local authorities and internal drainage boards under delegation from DEFRA for all schemes promoted under the Land Drainage Act and for schemes under the Coast Protection Act from April 2008. In 2008-09 and 2009-10 £64 million was allocated in each year for projects delivered by these bodies.
	£1 million has been made available to the Environment Agency to manage the intake of local authority trainees in September 2009 and to finance the trainees on the two-year Environment Agency Flood and Coastal Risk Engineering Foundation Degree. A further £175,000 has been made available to fund an intake of local authority trainees in September 2010.
	As noted in annex A of the Progress Report (published 15 December 2009) on the Government's Response to Sir Michael Pitt's Review of the summer 2007 floods, £34.5 million is being allocated by DEFRA to delivery organisations to help cover the additional costs of taking forward the recommendations they are responsible for.
	The following table shows how much has been allocated to date. It shows that a total of £20.2 million has been allocated to individual agencies and bodies by DEFRA so far.
	
		
			  Allocation to:  Allocation  Allocated by December 2009  To deliver: 
			 Local authorities £15 million £10 million between 80 local authorities Local authority leadership on flood risk management in the highest priority areas, including surface water management plans, tackling surface water problems, mapping of drainage assets, and oversight and maintenance of sustainable drainage systems for new housing, etc. 
			 Environment Agency and Met Office £5.0 million £3.76 million A new joint forecasting and warning centre, including the extreme rainfall alert. 
			 Environment Agency £8.5 million £5 million All other recommendations where the Environment Agency leads, including its new strategic overview of all types of flood risk in England, better modelling, forecasting and mapping for flooding particularly surface water, roll-out of ex-directory flood warnings, reservoir inundation maps, and a national flooding exercise to test the new response arrangements. 
			 Met Office £0.5 million £230,000 Research to make use of new detailed forecasting models for flooding. 
			 Cabinet Office £0.4 million £0.2 million New team within the Civil Contingencies Secretariat to run a national campaign to improve the resilience of critical national infrastructure. 
			 Others £10,000 £10,000 To fund the Risk and Regulatory Advisory Council to consider the communication of flood risk to the public. 
			 Contingency £5.1 million £1.0 million To provide a contingency fund in case allocations need to be increased in some areas, and to include: up to £2 million for an improved flood rescue capability; up to £1.25 million to support the production of reservoir emergency plans by local resilience forums. Funds have also been provided to the following additional activities announced since the Government's response: £750,000 to support local authority flood risk management apprenticeships this year and next. A further £250,000 is being funded from other budgets. £140,000 to fund a reservoir inundation mapping tool. 
			 Total £34.5 million £20.2 million - 
			  Source: Annex A of the Progress Report on the Government's Response to Sir Michael Pitt's Review (published 15 December 2009). 
		
	
	The breakdown of the major funding schemes originating from Pitt Review recommendations and the criteria that apply for qualifying bodies are reproduced as follows:
	 1. Property level grant scheme
	Local authorities allocated grants from the first round of the £5.5 million property level grant scheme (announced in June 2009 by the Secretary of State) amounted to £3 million. As yet, no claims for grant have been made against these allocations. Table 1 shows the geographical breakdown of recipients.
	
		
			  Table 1: Local authority recipients of property level grant scheme funding 
			  Local authority  Environment Agency region  Awarded (£) 
			 Ribble Valley BC North West 119,700 
			 Rossendale BC North West 3,000 
			 Wigan Council North West 83,500 
			 Vale Royal BC North West 15,000 
			 Leeds City Council North East 131,100 
			 Wakefield MDC North East 85,500 
			 Newcastle City Council North East 216,600 
			 Wychavon DC Midlands 121,000 
			 Birmingham City Council Midlands 153,900 
			 South Derbyshire DC Midlands 33,511 
			 Aylesbury Vale DC Anglian 325,000 
			 Milton Keynes Council Anglian 39,900 
			 Uttlesford DC Anglian 79,800 
			 Oxford City Council Thames 119,700 
			 West Oxfordshire DC Thames 171,000 
			 Vale of White Horse DC Thames 51,300 
			 Wokingham DC Thames 114,000 
			 Lewes DC Southern 282,000 
			 Somerset CC South West 267,900 
			 East Devon DC South West 96,900 
			 Gloucester CC Midlands 68,400 
			 Doncaster CC North East 108,000 
			 Gloucester CC and Tewkesbury BC Midlands 119,000 
			 Lincolnshire CC Anglian 96,900 
			 East Riding of Yorkshire Council North East 108,000 
			 Total  3,010,611 
		
	
	The basic criteria for the scheme is based on property type and the frequency and type of flooding. The full guidance for the scheme can be found at:
	www.defra.gov.uk/environment/flooding/documents/manage/floodgrantguidance.pdf
	 2. Surface wafer management
	On 18 August the Secretary of State announced £16 million funding to help local authorities tackle surface water flooding.
	£9.7 million was been awarded to 77 local authorities for areas where evidence shows that the risk and potential impact of surface water flooding could be highest. Local authorities for all other areas will also be able to bid for a share of £5 million to help them deal with known local flooding problems. £1 million has been allocated for building skills and capacity within local authorities.
	The £9.7 million funding has been allocated to the following local authorities. The first payments are being made in December 2009. All London borough funding is being made through the Drain London Forum. The methodology for determining the £9.7 million funding can be found on the DEFRA website at:
	http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/flooding/documents/manage/surfacewater/swmethodology.pdf
	
		
			  Table 2: Local authority recipients of SWMP funding 
			  County or unitary authority  Funding received (£000) 
			 Birmingham (Metropolitan) 300 
			 City of Brighton and Hove 275 
			 Leicester City; Kingston upon Hull Unitary; City of Bristol; Liverpool (Metropolitan) 250 
			 Manchester (Metropolitan); City of Nottingham; Leeds (Metropolitan); Hertfordshire County; Buckinghamshire County 200 
			 Luton Unitary; Sheffield (Metropolitan); East Sussex County; West Sussex County 175 
			 Reading Unitary; City of Portsmouth; City of Wolverhampton; Coventry (Metropolitan) 150 
			 Slough Unitary; Norfolk County; Derby Unitary; Hampshire County; Essex County 125 
			 City of Southampton; Kirklees Unitary; Southend on Sea Unitary; City of Stoke on Trent; Somerset County; Kent County; Swindon Unitary; Surrey County; Calderdale (Metropolitan); City of Plymouth; North Somerset Unitary; Gloucestershire County; Middlesbrough Unitary; Blackpool Unitary; Leicestershire County; Northants County; Sandwell Unitary (West Midlands); Westminster (LB); Lambeth (LB); Croydon (LB); Kensington and Chelsea (LB); Islington (LB); Camden (LB); Wandsworth (LB); Lewisham (LB); Southwark (LB); Bromley (LB); Hackney (LB); Hammersmith and Fulham (LB); Brent (LB); Enfield (LB); Havering (LB); Haringey (LB); Greenwich (LB); Merton (LB); Barnet (LB); Tower Hamlets (LB); Waltham Forest (LB); Sutton (LB); Newham (LB); Hillingdon (LB); Ealing (LB); Hounslow (LB); Richmond upon Thames (LB); Harrow (LB); Bexley (LB); Redbridge (LB); Kingston upon Thames (LB); Barking and Dagenham (LB) 100 
			 Lancashire County; Suffolk County; Bournemouth Unitary; Rochdale (Metropolitan) 75 
			 Total 9,700 
		
	
	In addition, local authorities were able to bid for a part of the £5 million to help deal with known surface water problems. We are aiming to make an announcement to successful local authorities in January 2010. Funding will be made available after March 2010. The criteria for bids can be found at:
	http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/flooding/documents/manage/surfacewater/earlyactapplication.doc
	Additionally, £300,000 was allocated in December 2008 for six areas (Warrington, Thatcham, Leeds, Kingston upon Hull, Richmond upon Thames and Gloucestershire) to carry out first edition surface water management plans with the aim to test DEFRA's Draft Surface Water Management Plan Guidance.
	 3. Building skills and capacity for local authorities
	An additional £1 million will be available for building skills and capacity within local authorities. This will include the provision of training, guidance and support tools to all local authorities and a programme for this will be developed with local authorities and their representatives over the next few months.

Flood Control: Finance

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the  (a) take-up and  (b) geographic distribution has been of funding made available by his Department following the flooding of summer 2007 for flood prevention works; how much such funding has yet to be allocated; and if he will make a statement.

Huw Irranca-Davies: Spending on flood risk management across central and local government has increased from £307 million in 1996-97 to over £655 million in 2008-09, and is due to reach £715 million in 2009-10 and £780 million in 2010-11. This will bring the total spent by DEFRA, the Environment Agency and local authorities over three years to £2.15 billion. £20 million of the original £800 million for 2010-11 was brought forward into this year's budgets as part of the fiscal stimulation package announced in the 2008 pre-Budget report.
	The majority of the funding is through the Environment Agency which allocates funding to Regional Flood Defence Committees for both new capital schemes and to maintain existing defences on the basis of national priorities to ensure that the funding is spent in the best way possible. Delivery is managed through the Environment Agency's regional offices.
	The following table provides a regional analysis of Government funding to the Environment Agency for 2008-09 and 2009-10.
	
		
			  Table 1: DEFRA Grant in aid to the Environment Agency Regions 2008-09 to 2009-10 
			  £ million 
			   Anglian  Midlands  North East  North West  Southern  South West  Thames  Total 
			 2008-09 135.0 46.6 60.7 49.3 61.7 51.7 90.2 495.3 
			 2009-10 115.6 62.1 77.3 61.1 77.3 52.9 102.3 548.6 
		
	
	In April 2006 the Environment Agency took on responsibility for the administration of capital grants payable to local authorities and Internal Drainage Boards under delegation from DEFRA for all schemes promoted under the Land Drainage Act and for schemes under the Coast Protection Act from April 2008.
	In 2008-09 and 2009-10 £64 million was allocated in each year for projects delivered by these bodies. In both years the Environment Agency fully utilised the entire grant in aid allocation on its own projects or those delivered by local authorities and Internal Drainage Boards
	Another major tranche of funding since 2007 has been allocated to taking forward the Pitt review recommendations over the period 2008-09 to 2010-11.
	As noted in Annex A of the Progress Report (published 15 December 2009) on The Government's response to Sir Michael Pitt's review of the summer 2007 floods, up to £34.5 million will be allocated by DEFRA to delivery organisations to help cover the additional costs of taking forward the recommendations they are responsible for.
	The following table shows that a total of £20.2 million has been allocated to date to individual bodies and agencies.
	
		
			  Table 2: Funding allocations for implementing the Pitt review recommendations 
			  Allocation to:  Allocation (£)  Allocated by December 2009 (£)  To deliver: 
			 Local authorities 15,000,000 (1)10,000,000 Local authority leadership on flood risk management in the highest priority areas, including surface water management plans, tackling surface water problems, mapping of drainage assets, and oversight and maintenance of sustainable drainage systems for new housing, etc. 
			 Environment Agency and Met Office 5,000,000 3,760,000 A new joint forecasting and warning centre, including the extreme rainfall alert. 
			 Environment Agency 8,500,000 5,000,000 All other recommendations where the Agency lead, including their new strategic overview of all types of flood risk in England, better modelling, forecasting and mapping for flooding particularly surface water, roll-out of ex-directory flood warnings, reservoir inundation maps, and a national flooding exercise to test the new response arrangements. 
			 Met Office 500,000 230,000 Research to make use of new detailed forecasting models for flooding. 
			 Cabinet Office 400,000 200,000 New team within the Civil Contingencies Secretariat to run a national campaign to improve the resilience of critical national infrastructure. 
			 Others 10,000 10,000 To fund the Risk and Regulatory Advisory Council to consider the communication of flood risk to the public. 
			 Contingency 5,100,000 1,000,000 To provide a contingency fund in case allocations need to be increased in some areas, and to include: Up to £2 million for an improved flood rescue capability; Up to £1.25 million to support the production of reservoir emergency plans by Local Resilience Forums. Funds have also been provided to the following additional activities announced since the Government's response: £750,000 to support local authority flood risk management, apprenticeships this year and next. A further £250,000 is being funded from other budgets. £140,000 to fund a reservoir inundation mapping tool. 
			 Total 34,500,000 20,200,000  
			 (1) Between 80 local authorities  Source: From: Annex A of the Progress Report on The Government's Response to Sir Michael Pitt's Review (published 15 December 2009). 
		
	
	The break-down of the major funding schemes originating from Pitt review recommendations is as follows:
	 1. Property level grant scheme
	DEFRA is committed to encouraging the adoption of property level protection and resilience, especially where community protection is not available or planned for in the near future.
	Local authorities allocated grants from the first round of the £5.5 million property level grant scheme (announced in June 2009 by the Secretary of State) amounted to £3 million. As yet, no claims for grant have been made against these allocations. Table 3 shows the geographical break-down of recipients.
	
		
			  Table 3: Local authority recipients of property level grant scheme funding 
			  Local authority  Environment Agency region  Amount awarded (£) 
			 Ribble Valley BC North West 119,700 
			 Rossendale BC North West 3,000 
			 Wigan Council North West 83,500 
			 Vale Royal BC North West 15,000 
			 Leeds City Council North East 131,100 
			 Wakefield MDC North East 85,500 
			 Newcastle City Council North East 216,600 
			 Wychavon DC Midlands 121,000 
			 Birmingham City Council Midlands 153,900 
			 South Derbyshire DC Midlands 33,511 
			 Aylesbury Vale DC Anglian 325,000 
			 Milton Keynes Council Anglian 39,900 
			 Uttlesford DC Anglian 79,800 
			 Oxford City Council Thames 119,700 
			 West Oxfordshire DC Thames 171,000 
			 Vale of White Horse DC Thames 51,300 
			 Wokingham DC Thames 114,000 
			 Lewes DC Southern 282,000 
			 Somerset CC South West 267,900 
			 East Devon DC South West 96,900 
			 Gloucester CC Midlands 68,400 
			 Doncaster CC North East 108,000 
			 Gloucester CC and Tewkesbury BC Midlands 119,000 
			 Lincolnshire CC Anglian 96,900 
			 East Riding of Yorkshire Council North East 108,000 
			   3,010,611 
		
	
	 2. Surface water management
	On 18 August Hilary Benn announced £16 million funding to help local authorities tackle surface water flooding.
	£9.7 million was been awarded to 77 local authorities for areas where evidence shows that the risk and potential impact of surface water flooding could be highest. Local authorities for all other areas will also be able to bid for a share of £5 million to help them deal with known local flooding problems. £1 million has been allocated for building skills and capacity within local authorities. The £9.7 million funding has been allocated to the following local authorities. The first payments are being made in December 2009 and will then be made monthly until the end of March 2011. All London borough funding is being made through the Drain London Forum.
	
		
			  Table 4: Local authority recipients of SWMP funding 
			  County or unitary authority  Funding received (£000) 
			 Birmingham (Metropolitan) 300 
			   
			 City of Brighton and Hove 275 
			   
			 Leicester City  
			 Kingston upon Hull Unitary  
			 City of Bristol  
			 Liverpool (Metropolitan) 250 
			   
			 Manchester (Metropolitan)  
			 City of Nottingham  
			 Leeds (Metropolitan)  
			 Hertfordshire County  
			 Buckinghamshire County 200 
			   
			 Luton Unitary  
			 Sheffield (Metropolitan)  
			 East Sussex County  
			 West Sussex County 175 
			   
			  
			 Reading Unitary  
			 City of Portsmouth  
			 City of Wolverhampton  
			 Coventry (Metropolitan) 150 
			   
			 Slough Unitary  
			 Norfolk County  
			 Derby Unitary  
			 Hampshire County  
			 Essex County 125 
			   
			 City of Southampton  
			 Kirklees Unitary  
			 Southend on Sea Unitary  
			 City of Stoke on Trent  
			 Somerset County  
			 Kent County  
			 Swindon Unitary  
			 Surrey County  
			 Calderdale (Metropolitan)  
			 City of Plymouth  
			 North Somerset Unitary  
			 Gloucestershire County  
			 Middlesbrough Unitary  
			 Blackpool Unitary  
			 Leicestershire County  
			 Northants County  
			 Sandwell Unitary (West Midlands)  
			 Westminster (LB)  
			 Lambeth (LB)  
			 Croydon (LB)  
			 Kensington and Chelsea (LB)  
			 Islington (LB)  
			 Camden (LB)  
			 Wandsworth (LB)  
			 Lewisham (LB)  
			 Southwark (LB)  
			 Bromley (LB)  
			 Hackney (LB)  
			 Hammersmith and Fulham (LB)  
			 Brent (LB)  
			 Enfield (LB)  
			 Havering (LB)  
			 Haringey (LB)  
			 Greenwich (LB)  
			 Merton (LB)  
			 Barnet (LB)  
			 Tower Hamlets (LB)  
			 Waltham Forest (LB)  
			 Sutton (LB)  
			 Newham (LB)  
			 Hillingdon (LB)  
			 Ealing (LB)  
			 Hounslow (LB)  
			 Richmond upon Thames (LB)  
			 Harrow (LB)  
			 Bexley (LB)  
			 Redbridge (LB)  
			 Kingston upon Thames (LB)  
			 Barking and Dagenham (LB) 100 
			   
			 Lancashire County  
			 Suffolk County  
			 Bournemouth Unitary  
			 Rochdale (Metropolitan) 75 
			   
			 Total 9,700 
		
	
	In addition local authorities were able to bid for a part of the £5 million to help deal with known surface water problems. Bids closed on 30 November 2009.
	Applications are currently being assessed and we are aiming to make an announcement to successful local authorities in January 2010. Funding will be made available after March 2010.
	Additionally £300,000 was allocated in December 2008 for six areas (Warrington, Thatcham, Leeds, Kingston upon Hull, Richmond upon Thames and Gloucestershire) to carry out first edition surface water management plans with the aim to test DEFRA's Draft Surface Water Management Plan Guidance.
	 3. Building skills and capacity for local authorities
	An additional £1 million will be available for building skills and capacity within local authorities. This will include the provision of training, guidance and support tools to all local authorities and a programme for this will be developed with local authorities and their representatives over the next few months.

Ivory: China

Richard Benyon: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent  (a) reports he has received and  (b) discussions he has had with his (i) Chinese and (ii) Japanese counterparts on the controls in place in respect of illegal ivory imports to each of those countries; and if he will make a statement.

Huw Irranca-Davies: A report on inspections and control checks undertaken in China and Japan upon the arrival of the legal ivory, from the sale which took place in 2008, was prepared for the 58th meeting of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species Standing Committee held between 6 and 10 July 2009. I have received no other reports, or held discussions with either Chinese or Japanese officials on the controls in place, in respect of illegal ivory imports to those countries since the ivory sale in 2008.

Morocco: Fishery Agreements

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the EU-Morocco Fisheries Partnership Agreement.

Huw Irranca-Davies: No formal assessment of the effectiveness of the EU Morocco agreement has been made but Joint Committees are held each year where both parties discuss how they consider the agreement is working. The UK attends these meetings in order to represent the interests of the vessels that operate in Moroccan waters under the agreement.

Rights of Way

John Grogan: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many incidents involving animals resulted in  (a) injury and  (b) death on (i) public rights of way and (ii) land to which the public has access in each of the last five years for which figures are available; and what the requirements for reporting such incidents are.

Jonathan R Shaw: I have been asked to reply.
	The statistics gathered under reporting arrangements cannot distinguish between rights of way and other open access land. The following information is for incidents involving animals where the injured person was classed as a member of the public and the incident was related to agriculture.
	
		
			   Reported injuries  Fatal 
			 2004-05 18 0 
			 2005-06 17 3 
			 2006-07 24 2 
			 2007-08 23 0 
			 2008-09 10 2 
		
	
	Besides responsibilities of employers in respect of employees, the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995 (RIDDOR) place a legal duty on those in control of premises where work is going on to report to the enforcing authorities for health and safety at work all serious injuries to members of the public arising out of or in connection with the work activity. This would apply to injuries causing the death of the person or requiring their removal to hospital for treatment. The requirement is to report the incident by the quickest practicable means.
	The Incident Contact Centre which was set up by the Health and Safety Executive in 2001 provides a one-stop reporting service for work related health and safety incidents in the UK. Reports can be made by phone, letter, fax, on-line or email.

Total Allowable Catches

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what representations he has received on negotiations under the Common Fisheries Policy on Area 7 Nephrops total allowable catch quota for 2010;
	(2)  what discussions he has had with the Northern Ireland Minister for Agriculture on the December EU Fisheries Council.

Huw Irranca-Davies: I am well aware of the importance of the Nephrops fishery in the Irish Sea to UK fishermen. I visited Portavogie earlier in the year, to see this at first hand and have since received a significant number of representations both from the relevant sections of the fishing industry and hon. Members either with constituency or policy interest. The Commission had originally proposed a 30 per cent. cut in the total allowable catch (TAC) for the stock and although it was not possible to argue away the cut altogether, working closely with Michelle Gildemew (Minister for the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development) and deploying more up-to-date science, we succeeded in limiting the reduction to 9 per cent. In the circumstances this was a very credible result. In the meantime, we will also be exploring the potential for supplementing the UK's quota with international swaps from other member states. However, for the future, it will be important to balance the short-term interests of the fishermen, with the longer term sustainable management of the stock.
	The Minister for the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development was present throughout the December Council and she and I have been in regular contact in the lead-up to the negotiations to discuss the full range of Northern Irish interests.

Whales: Conservation

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether he plans to update his Department's document Protecting whales-a global responsibility prior to the International Whaling Commission in June 2010; and if he will make a statement.

Huw Irranca-Davies: DEFRA's publication "Protecting whales-a global responsibility" sets out the ecological, economic and moral arguments for protecting whales. Since its publication in 2007, the UK's position on whaling has remained strong and we continue to support the arguments set out in the publication.
	The main objectives of the publication were to raise awareness of the situation in the International Whaling Commission (IWC) and persuade 'like-minded' conservation countries of the merits of joining the organisation. Both these objectives have been achieved with a number of 'like-minded' conservation minded countries recently joining the IWC.
	An update of the publication "Protecting whales-a global responsibility" will be considered following the outcome of the discussions on the reform of the IWC currently taking place.

Whales: Conservation

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions he has had with ministerial colleagues on whaling in the last 12 months; whether he plans to hold further such discussions before the 2010 International Whaling Commission meeting; and if he will make a statement.

Huw Irranca-Davies: Following last year's International Whaling Commission (IWC) meeting, I wrote to all hon. Members, which included a report on the latest developments within the IWC. I will write again in the build-up to this year's meeting.
	In June 2009, I also met the hon. Peter Garrett, MP-Australian Minister for the Environment-to discuss whaling and the IWC.

Non-Departmental Public Bodies

Dai Davies: To ask the Prime Minister what arms-length bodies the Government plans to abolish, with reference to page 54 of Putting the Front Line First: Smarter Government, Cm 7753.

Liam Byrne: I have been asked to reply.
	The recent White Paper "Putting the Frontline First: Smarter Government" pledged to reduce the number of arm's length bodies by over 120. The bodies that are affected, subject to the necessary legislation and consultation required, are as follows:
	15 Agricultural Wages Committees in England.
	16 Agricultural Dwelling House Advisory Committees in England are being abolished.
	The number of Advisory Committees for the Appointment of Justices of the Peace will be reduced from 101 to 49.
	Four Court Boards will be removed by 1 April 2010, reducing them from 23 to 19 in line with new court regional areas.
	Her Majesty's Courts Inspectorate is to be abolished.
	The Sentencing Advisory Panel and Sentencing Guidelines Council will be merged.
	The Postgraduate Medical Education Training Board is being merged with the General Medical Council.
	The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills is committed to reducing by 30 or more the number of separate publicly funded sector skills bodies over the next three years. Individual bodies have not yet been confirmed, but further details can be seen in chapter 6 of the BIS "Skills for Growth" White Paper (CM 7641 )(1).
	Four museums sponsored by the Ministry of Defence are being merged into the new National Museum of the Royal Navy-the separate museums are:
	Royal Marines Museum
	Royal Naval Museum
	Royal Naval Submarine Museum
	Fleet Air Arm.
	In total this represents a reduction of 123 separate arm's length bodies. In Budget 2010 there will be a further report on arm's length bodies, which will include further mergers and reductions of bodies. We will also announce ALB governance reforms, which will set out a tougher regime for establishing new bodies, and drive out value for money and efficiencies from the sector as a whole.
	(1) Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (November 2009), "Skills For Growth: The National Skills Strategy". London: the Stationary Office (CM 7641).

Cars: Licensing

Norman Baker: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport how many cars have ceased to be licensed in each year since 1985.

Paul Clark: The following table gives annual estimates of the number of registration marks that were on a car which ceased to be licensed, or which underwent a "cherished transfer" to another vehicle.
	
		
			   Number of car registration marks that ceased to be licensed  Estimated number of "cherished transfers" of car registration marks to other vehicles 
			 1995 2,768,000 85,000 
			 1996 2,549,000 98,000 
			 1997 2,726,000 112,000 
			 1998 2,984,000 136,000 
			 1999 2,860,000 134,000 
			 2000 3,012,000 115,000 
			 2001 3,028,000 167,000 
			 2002 3,177,000 191,000 
			 2003 3,385,000 217,000 
			 2004 3,203,000 253,000 
			 2005 3,189,000 264,000 
			 2006 3,289,000 294,000 
			 2007 3,281,000 298,000 
			 2008 3,264,000 284,000 
			  Note:  Figures are rounded to the nearest thousand. 
		
	
	The first data column counts cars that were not licensed at the end of the years shown, but whose registration mark was licensed (possibly on another vehicle) 12 months earlier. The vehicles that have become unlicensed may have been scrapped, exported or otherwise taken off the road. However, it is possible for unlicensed vehicles to become relicensed again in later years.
	The second data column counts the number of "cherished transfers" of registration marks from cars to other vehicles in the years shown. However, cherished transfer registration marks which are held on retention (rather than being transferred directly to other vehicles) are counted in the first column. The available data do not record what happened to vehicles whose registration mark was the subject of a cherished transfer. Some such vehicles would have been taken off the road, but others would have received a new registration mark and been relicensed. The figures are presented as rounded estimates, rather than exact counts, in view of this uncertainty.

Departmental Buildings

Phil Willis: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport how many residential properties his Department owns; and how many  (a) are occupied and  (b) have been empty for more than six months.

Chris Mole: The Driving Standards Agency and the Highways Agency own residential properties.
	The Driving Standards Agency owns the freehold of two residential flats situated above a Driving Test Centre. The flats are let on long leases (circa 80 years), and both are occupied.
	The Highways Agency owns 428 residential properties of which 325 are occupied.
	103 have been empty for more than six months.
	Of these 103:
	Six currently are being marketed to let.
	Four properties are awaiting demolition.
	34 are vacant in the disposal process.
	Two properties are un-lettable because they are inaccessible due to road construction works.
	44 are vacant awaiting repair. 26 of these are in an improvement programme for this financial year and will be available to let by 31 March 2010. The remaining 18 will be considered for improvement in 2010-11.
	13 properties are beyond economic repair.

National Cycle Plan

Andrew Stunell: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport when he plans to publish the National Cycle Plan; and if he will make a statement.

Sadiq Khan: We will publish with Department of Health a joint Active Travel Strategy and National Cycle Plan in the new year.

Thames Crossing

Bob Spink: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport if he will visit Castle Point constituency to assess the potential impact on the local environment of a new £4 billion Thames Crossing as proposed by Metrotidal; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Mole: The Department for Transport announced in April 2009, its intention to investigate further, three potential options for possible new additional crossing capacity in the Lower Thames area.
	In reaching its decision, links between the provision of additional crossing capacity and a possible new Thames Barrier were considered inappropriate, given the prospective timescales for the need for a new Thames Barrier.
	In promoting their initiative, it is for Metrotidal to set out their assessment of the potential local environmental impacts of their proposals.

Transport: Carbon Emissions

Norman Baker: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport 
	(1)  if he will estimate the level of carbon emissions from  (a) rail and  (b) road haulage in each year since 1990 (i) per mile and (ii) in total;
	(2)  if he will estimate the amount of carbon emissions from rail haulage in each year since 1990  (a) per mile and  (b) in total.

Paul Clark: The following tables are based on data from the National Atmospheric Emissions Inventory and Great Britain and Northern Ireland traffic censuses. It summarises carbon dioxide emissions of diesel rail haulage and heavy goods vehicles for the years requested. The tables exclude carbon dioxide emission figures for electric rail haulage and per kilometre for diesel rail haulage which are not available in the form requested.
	UK national emission estimates are updated annually and any developments in methodology are applied retrospectively to earlier years.
	
		
			1990  1991  1992  1993  1994  1995  1996  1997  1998 
			 Diesel rail freight CO2 emissions (kilotonnes) 798 856 793 704 665 680 740 799 801 
			 HGVs CO2 emissions (kilotonnes) 23,268 23,115 22,378 22,060 22,074 22,664 23,046 23,594 23,494 
			 HGVs Kt of CO2/billion km 894 901 896 867 851 850 838 838 804 
		
	
	
		
			1999  2000  2001  2002  2003  2004  2005  2006  2007 
			 Diesel rail freight CO2 emissions (kilotonnes) 772 736 789 754 768 828 883 900 931 
			 HGVs CO2 emissions (kilotonnes) 24,071 24,218 24,740 24,777 25,696 25,434 24,791 25,421 26,260 
			 HGVs Kt of CO2/billion km 812 811 834 818 838 810 797 811 830 
			  Source:  AEA Energy and Environment.

Departmental Marketing

Nick Hurd: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what the advertising, marketing and publicity budget is of the  (a) Real Help Now and  (b) Building Britain's Future campaign in 2009-10.

Angela Smith: Both Real Help Now and Building Britain's Future are cross-government campaigns.
	There is no specific advertising, marketing and publicity budget held within Cabinet Office for either Real Help Now or Building Britain's Future (BBF).
	Costs associated with Real Help Now and BBF for which Cabinet Office is liable have been met from the over-arching departmental communications budget.
	To date, £112,282.50 of this budget has been committed to BBF activity and Cabinet Office has spent £105,704 (excluding VAT) on publicity and marketing for the Real Help Now campaign.

Floods: Cumbria

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what role the National Hazards Team will play in recovery from the recent floods in Cumbria.

Dawn Butler: The main role of the Natural Hazards Team within the Cabinet Office is to develop a programme to improve the resilience of critical infrastructure and essential services to severe disruption from natural hazards.
	Members of the team shared information on critical national infrastructure at risk of flooding with regional and local responders at the onset of the recent flood emergency in Cumbria. Within Government, the Department for Communities and Local Government is leading on the recovery from the floods including, in conjunction with the lead Government Departments for each sector of national infrastructure, to ensure essential services are restored as quickly as possible; the Natural Hazards Team will be available to advise, if required.

Government Departments: Computer Software

Adam Afriyie: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what proportion of  (a) her Department's and  (b) other Government departments' software was open source software (i) in February 2009 and (ii) at the latest date for which information is available.

Angela Smith: Information on the current and future use of open source software in my Department and in other Government Departments is not held centrally and can be collected only at disproportionate cost.
	The Cabinet Office follows the Government's Open Source Software (OSS) Policy (the most recent version was published in February 2009), which requires that Government consider OSS solutions alongside proprietary ones in IT procurements, and award contracts on a value for money basis. They do not therefore have plans in place to raise the level of OSS use, but rather will make software procurement decisions on a case-by-case basis.

National School of Government: Valuation Office

Bob Neill: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what courses representatives of the Valuation Office Agency attended at the National School of Government in  (a) 2006-07,  (b) 2007-08 and  (c) 2008-09.

Angela Smith: This is a matter for the National School of Government. I have asked the Principal and Chief Executive to assist by writing to you.
	 Letter from Rod Clark, dated December 2009:
	In the Written Ministerial Statement to the House on 9 January 2007 (Official Report Col 5WS), the then Parliamentary Secretary for the Cabinet Office (Pat McFadden MP) announced that the National School of Government was now a Non Ministerial Department. Consequently, the Minister for the Cabinet Office has asked me to reply to your Parliamentary Questions about the National School of Government.
	The Valuation Office Agency (VOA) has sent staff on a number of events at the National School of Government. A copy of the table which sets out the events will be placed in the House Library.

Carers' Benefits

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when her Department first determined that there would be no cash losers from the implementation of reforms proposed in the Green Paper, Shaping the future of care together; and if she will make a statement.

Jonathan R Shaw: holding answer 14 December 2009
	As we said in the Green Paper, if we reform disability benefits, anyone receiving an affected benefit at the time of reform would continue to receive the equivalent level of support and protection-thereby not experiencing a cash loss as a result of the reforms.

Departmental Translation Services

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much was spent by her Department on providing translation services for its customers in each of the last 12 years.

Jim Knight: The DWP provides a range of language translation services for customers across Great Britain (as Northern Ireland is excluded), namely:
	1. Face to Face
	2. Telephone.
	3. Translating by a range of services which includes the translation of departmental information leaflets and other documents that are provided to customers in a range of ethnic languages, audio and Braille, as well as all publications for Welsh speaking customers living in Wales.
	4. We are also able to offer an ad hoc service to convert documents into Easy Read format.
	The contractual arrangements for the services have been developed over a number of years and as a result spend has not been applicable for some of these services in each of the last five years or data have not been able to be gathered for spend during some years. Disproportionate cost would be incurred in trying to identify such spend.
	We are also unable to provide data prior to 2003-04 as data were not held centrally prior to then.
	The range of services also includes the translation of departmental information leaflets that are provided to customers into a range of ethnic languages, as well as all publications for Welsh speaking customers.
	NDPB's have access to our frameworks but we do not hold centrally any data relating to their specific spend, if any, via these services. To ascertain this would incur disproportionate cost.
	The information requested is given in the following table:
	
		
			  £ 
			  Type of translation service  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07  2007-08  2008-09 
			 Face to face and telephone 2,643,448 2,967,756 3,443,334 4,496,008 3,515,722 3,761,765 
			 Ethnic document translation (1)n/a n/a 120,720 267,500 134,945 (2)459,554 
			 Welsh 24,973 30,855 20,766 50,759 65,789 66,755 
			 Braille n/a n/a n/a n/a 45,309 59,522 
			 Audio n/a n/a n/a n/a 35,572 33,397 
			 Easy Read n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 Totals 2,668,421 2,998,611 3,584,820 4,814,267 3,797,337 4,380,993 
			 (1) Not available without incurring disproportionate cost as data not held centrally or are combined within other category data and not possible to separate. (2) This figure includes all translation spend for the International Pensions Centre (IPC) which previously was not held centrally-total £381,370.59 for 2008-09.

Employment and Support Allowance: Medical Examinations

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many appeals against an original outcome of a work capability assessment have been upheld to date.

Jonathan R Shaw: The most recent data published on appeal outcomes following a Work Capability Assessment was published in October 2009 and is provided as follows:
	http://research.dwp.gov.uk/asd/workingage/esa_wca/esa_wca_arc.asp
	
		
			  Work Capability Assessment appeals heard on 'Fit for Work' decisions-data to end of August 2009 
			   Number 
			 Appeals heard 4,900 
			 DWP decision upheld 3,300 
			 Decision in favour of appellant 1,500 
			  Notes: 1. Includes clerical assessments, we can infer that an appeal that links to a clerical assessment was very likely to be against a 'fit for work' decision. 2. Due to the time it takes for appeals to be submitted to Tribunal Service and heard, a very limited volume of appeals heard data is held currently. Volumes will increase in the coming months as more appeals are processed giving a more robust picture of appeal volumes and outcomes.

Equality 2025

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what recent discussions  (a) Ministers and  (b) officials in her Department have had with representatives of Equality 2025; and if she will make a statement.

Jonathan R Shaw: holding answer 30 November 2009
	Equality 2025 is an advisory non-departmental public body established in response to a recommendation in the 2005 report by the Prime Minister's Strategy Unit "Improving the Life Chances of Disabled People". It is sponsored by (but is not part of) the Office for Disability Issues, part of the Department for Work and Pensions.
	I meet with the chair and deputy chair of Equality 2025 which meet on a quarterly basis; the most recent meeting took place on 30 November. In addition, the chair and some members of Equality 2025 recently accompanied me to a number of events around the country. I also attended, and spoke at, Equality 2025's Annual Public Meeting in October 2009.
	Meetings take place between Equality 2025 members and officials within the Office for Disability Issues and the Department for Work and Pensions on a range of matters, such as the UN Convention on Disability Rights, the Independent Living Strategy, the Hate Crime Strategy, the Equality Bill, and communication strategies. Equality 2025 members are also members of the ad hoc advisory groups supporting the Independent Living Strategy and Right to Control project.
	As a cross-government group, Equality 2025 also meets with Ministers and officials beyond DWP. The chair has a standing invitation to the Life Chances ministerial group which I chair and is attended by Ministers from each 'Life Chances' department. The group meets quarterly. Equality 2025 members also have bi-lateral discussions with officials across Government in support of the Equality 2025 Workplan and in response to requests for advice from Government Departments.
	More formally, the Minister for Disability issues and I have recently been reviewing the work of Equality 2025 and its achievements over the last three years. With the agreement of Equality 2025, we are now taking the opportunity to further develop its strategic role as an 'expert group' and to streamline its size. Instead of running regional engagement events to find out disabled people's views, the group will build strong links with key disability organisations, umbrella groups and others across the United Kingdom. This will enable them to acquire a more representative picture of disabled people's views.

Industrial Health and Safety: Hazardous Substances

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment the Health and Safety Executive has made of BP's contract to lease the Oikos terminal on Canvey Island; and if she will make a statement.

Jonathan R Shaw: holding answer 14 December 2009
	The Health and Safety Executive has made no assessment of BP Oil UK Ltd's contract to lease storage facilities at Oikos Storage Ltd's site on Canvey Island.
	It is not HSE's role to assess this and will assess any significant changes that are made to the site and to the sites' CO commercial contracts. HSE's role is to monitor safety at this site. HSE will continue to do MAH safety report as a result of the implementation of this contract.

Members: Correspondence

David Winnick: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when she expects to reply to the letter of 3 November 2009 from the hon. Member for Walsall North concerning a constituent.

Jonathan R Shaw: holding answer 8 December 2009
	A reply was sent to my hon. Friend on 16 December 2009.

State Retirement Pensions

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate she has made of the average net change in income of a pensioner receiving no more than the basic state pension in each year since 1997.

Angela Eagle: Pensioners receiving no more than the basic state pension have been defined as those individual pensioners whose total individual income was below the basic state pension threshold for each relevant year.
	The information that is available is shown in the following table. Figures are presented in 2007-08 prices in order to allow comparison over time. The information has been derived from the Family Resources survey and is presented as a three year average to help take account of small sample sizes that exist for subsets of the population.
	For context, the basic state pension threshold in 2007-08 was £87.30.
	It should be noted that the data is based on individual incomes. As shown in Table 1 above, just 4 per cent. of the individuals' income in this group in 2005-08 provided the total household income. That is, 96 per cent. of this group live in households with other income earning adults and therefore their overall household income is likely to be much higher. The vast majority of this second group are female.
	When considering income, household income is most commonly used. This is because the living standards of an individual depend not only on his or her own income, but also on the income of others in the household. Consequently, considering an individuals income is often not indicative of that individuals overall living standards.
	The figures in Table 1 should therefore be used to signify the change in this income level, rather than as an indicator of the average level of income that an individual has to live on and consequently a gauge of living standards.
	
		
			   Average weekly income of individual pensioners with incomes below the basic state pension threshold in each given time period (in 2007-08 prices) (£)  Proportion where income from individual is the only household income (percentage)  Change in average individual income (£) 
			 1995-98 50 2 - 
			 1996-99 50 2 0 
			 1997-2000 51 2 1 
			 1998-01 51 2 0 
			 1999-02 53 2 2 
			 2000-03 54 2 1 
			 2001-04 53 2 -1 
			 2002-05 54 3 1 
			 2003-06 54 3 1 
			 2004-07 58 4 3 
			 2005-08 57 4 -1 
			  Notes: 1. Please note that figures on change may not match exactly due to rounding. 2. Incomes and change in income are rounded to the nearest pound. 
		
	
	The figures suggest that while there have been two time periods where the average income has fallen, over the entire period since 1995-98, the average income has risen by £7 in real terms.

Written Questions: Government Responses

Andrew Selous: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when she will respond to Question 301334, tabled by the hon. Member for South West Bedfordshire on 19 November 2009, on departmental working practices.

Jim Knight: holding answer 10 December 2009
	I replied to the hon. Member's question on 8 December 2009,  Official Report, column 243-4W.

Animal Experiments: Wales

Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many infringements of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 in Wales were recorded in 2008; and how many of those resulted in a prosecution.

Meg Hillier: During 2008 there was one infringements of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 recorded for a designated establishment in Wales, it did not result in a prosecution.

Arrests: Football

David Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he plans to publish statistics relating to football-related arrests and banning orders for 2008-09.

Alan Campbell: Football-related arrest and banning order statistics for the 2008-09 football season was published on 22 December 2009.

Crime

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  how many crimes were recorded  (a) in total and  (b) per capita in (i) Wales and (ii) England in each year since 1997;
	(2)  how many recorded incidents of robbery there were  (a) in total and  (b) per head in (i) Wales and (ii) England in each year since 1997.

David Hanson: holding answer 14 December 2009
	The available information relates to offences recorded by the police and the number of offences and rates per 1,000 population are given in the following tables. Rates per 1,000 population is the usual method of presenting this data.
	
		
			  Table 1: Offences recorded by the police-1997 
			   1997 
			  Area and numbers  All offences  Robbery 
			  Wales   
			 Number of offences 236,936 811 
			 Rate per 1,000 population 81 0.3 
			
			  England   
			 Number of offences 4,361,391 62,261 
			 Rate per 1,000 population 89 1.3 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2: Offences recorded by the police-1998-99 to 2001-02 
			   1998-99  1999-2000  2000-01  2001-02 
			  Area and numbers  All offences  Robbery  All offences  Robbery  All offences  Robbery  All offences  Robbery 
			  Wales 
			 Number of offences 261,994 853 255,487 909 238,449 890 241,432 1,030 
			 Rate per 1,000 population 90 0.3 87 0.3 81 0.3 82 0.3 
			  
			  England 
			 Number of offences 4,847,095 65,982 5,045,698 83,368 4,932,394 94,264 5,283,592 120,329 
			 Rate per 1,000 population 98 1.3 102 1.7 99 2.0 106 2.4 
			  Notes: 1. The coverage was extended and counting rules revised from 1998-99. Figures from that date are not directly comparable with those for 1997. 2. The data in this table is prior to the introduction of the National Crime Recording Standard in April 2002. These figures are not directly comparable with those for later years. 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 3: Offences recorded by the police-2002-03 to 2008-09 
			   2002-03  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06 
			  Area and numbers  All offences  Robbery  All offences  Robbery  All offences  Robbery  All offences  Robbery 
			  Wales 
			 Number of offences 294,780 1,377 289,263 1,280 267,624 1,084 258,024 1,137 
			 Rate per 1,000 population 102 0.5 99 0.4 91 0.4 87 0.4 
			  
			  England 
			 Number of offences 5,602,916 106,652 5,645,314 99,914 5,291,998 87,889 5,220,763 94,895 
			 Rate per 1,000 population 114 2.2 114 2.0 106 1.8 104 1.9 
		
	
	
		
			   2006-07  2007-08  2008-09 
			  Area and numbers  All offences  Robbery  All offences  Robbery  All offences  Robbery 
			  Wales   
			 Number of offences 258,473 1,354 243,623 1,260 236,613 1,215 
			 Rate per 1,000 population 87 0.5 82 0.4 79 0.4 
			
			  England   
			 Number of offences 5,092,680 98,069 4,639,675 82,446 4,400,988 78,031 
			 Rate per 1,000 population 101 1.9 91 1.6 86 1.5 
			  Note: The data in this table takes account of the introduction of the National Crime Recording Standard in April 2002. These figures are not directly comparable with those for earlier years.

Entry Clearances

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 3 December 2009,  Official Report, columns 888-9W, on entry clearances, what the average caseworking time to process a  (a) postal,  (b) premium and  (c) student batch application was in the latest period for which figures are available.

Phil Woolas: holding answer 14 December 2009
	The information requested is as follows:
	 (a) For postal applications during October 2009 UKBA delivered concluded applications against published service standards for the different routes as follows:
	Family-53 per cent. against the service standard of 65 per cent. in four weeks.
	Employment-89 per cent. against the service standard of 75 per cent. in four weeks.
	Study-91 per cent. against the service standard of 75 per cent. in four weeks.
	Visits-61 per cent. against the service of 65 per cent. in four weeks.
	 (b) For premium applications during November 2009 UKBA provided 82 per cent. of applicants with same day service.
	 (c) Student batch applications cannot be measured and are included in the study route performance at  (a).
	The data used is from Internal Management Information only and does not constitute national statistics.

Entry Clearances: Overseas Students

Susan Kramer: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps are being taken to ensure that any changes to Tier 4 of the points-based system do not reduce the attractiveness of the UK as a study destination to foreign students.

Phil Woolas: The Prime Minister announced on 12 November 2009 that a review of tier 4, the student tier of the Points Based System, would be conducted by a joint team from the UK Border Agency and the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills. The review team have been asked to assess whether the current tier 4 policy strikes the appropriate balance between facilitating access of genuine students to education in the UK and preventing abuse by economic migrants.
	The review is looking at evidence gathered from the early stages of tier 4, which was launched in March this year, to look at the case for or against any policy changes. The review will consider all of the available data and evidence, including the potential effect of any changes on the attractiveness of the UK as a study destination for international students.

Independent Safeguarding Authority

Nick Hurd: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether a privacy impact assessment was produced in relation to the  (a) creation and  (b) operation of the schemes overseen by the Independent Safeguarding Authority.

Meg Hillier: The Independent Safeguarding Authority was formally vested on 2 January 2008 and commenced operations in March 2008. This pre-dated the mandatory requirement to produce a privacy impact assessment.
	The Vetting and Barring Scheme programme, which includes establishment of the Independent Safeguarding Authority is being delivered in phases. The programme is currently in its fourth phase and a Privacy Impact Assessment is scheduled to be completed during the remaining phases of the programme.

Offenders: Radicalism

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many units within his Department are developing interventions and programmes for extremist offenders following their release from a custodial sentence.

David Hanson: One unit, the Prevent Interventions Unit, is working with a number of community based organisations to develop a range of interventions to support individuals, this target group will include some offenders convicted of terrorist related offences. The unit also work with statutory partners, such as the National Offender Management Service, to develop interventions that support offenders convicted of a terrorist offence as well as offenders who are vulnerable to recruitment or have already been recruited by violent extremists.

Offensive Weapons: Convictions

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people charged with carrying an offensive weapon in  (a) England,  (b) the North East and  (c) Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland constituency in 2008-09; and what sentences those convicted of such offences received.

Jack Straw: I have been asked to reply.
	The number of offenders that were charged with carrying an offensive weapon is not available. Data relating to possession of an offensive weapon is based on offences resulting in a caution or sentence.
	The table shows the number of offences involving the possession of an offensive weapon resulting in a caution or sentence between Ql 2008 (January to March) to Q3 2009 (July to September) in England and Wales.
	This table has been taken from the Ministry of Justice's publication "Knife Crime Sentencing: Quarterly Brief" published on 10 December 2009 and available from
	http://www.justice.gov.uk/publications/knife-crime-sentencing.htm
	Further regional breakdowns by police force area are not given as the numbers are too small for reliable interpretation.
	
		
			  Offences( 1)  involving possession of an offensive weapon resulting in a caution or a sentence 
			  Number of offences and percentage 
			  Disposal category  Q1 2008  Q2 2008  Q3 2008  Q4 2008  Q1  2009  Q2 2009  Q3 2009 
			  Number of offences
			 Possession of an offensive weapon 3,751 3,639 3,665 3,475 3,217 3,183 3,101 
			 Caution(2) 1,586 1,602 1,393 1,218 1,138 1,105 1,092 
			 Absolute/Conditional discharge 203 169 102 83 91 93 92 
			 Fine 166 112 113 134 122 114 106 
			 Community sentence 964 881 977 976 886 911 830 
			 Suspended sentence 248 266 320 330 309 342 331 
			 Immediate custody 497 518 681 623 606 551 498 
			 Other disposal 87 91 79 111 65 67 152 
			 
			  Percentage of total offences
			 Caution(2) 42 44 38 35 35 35 35 
			 Community sentence 26 24 27 28 28 29 27 
			 Suspended sentence 7 7 9 9 10 11 11 
			 Immediate custody 13 14 19 18 19 17 16 
			 (1 )As recorded by the police on the police national computer. (2) Cautions include juveniles receiving reprimands and final warnings.  Notes: 1. These figures have been drawn from the police's administrative IT system, the police national computer (PNC), which, as with any large scale recording system, is subject to possible errors with data entry and processing. The figures are provisional and subject to change as more information is recorded by the police.  2. PNC data has been used here rather than court data, which is the usual source of published sentencing statistics, as PNC data provides more up to date figures ahead of the finalised annual court data.

Police: Ethnic Groups

Greg Mulholland: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers of each ethnicity there were in Leeds North West constituency in each year since 2005; and what percentage of the total number of police officers was in each ethnic group in each such year.

David Hanson: Data on ethnicity of police officers are only collected centrally at police force area level.

Public Finance

David Willetts: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to his Department's publication Long-term public finance report: an analysis of fiscal sustainability, what the figures are which are represented by each bar in  (a) the tables in box 5.B, page 39,  (b) chart 6.B, page 45,  (c) chart 6.C, page 46,  (d) chart 6.D, page 47,  (e) chart 6.E, page 48,  (f) chart 6.F, page 50,  (g) chart 6.H, page 52 and  (h) chart 6.I, page 53.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: The requested data from the 2009 Long-term public finance report is set out in the tables.
	As noted in the 2009 Long-term public finance report, long-term fiscal projections, unlike forecasts, are not based on a detailed analysis of all relevant factors. They are an illustration of how spending and revenue would evolve under a set of given assumptions and should therefore be caveated as involving a high degree of uncertainty.
	
		
			  First chart from Box 5.B 
			  GDP  2009  2019  2029  2039  2049  2059 
			 ONS Principal 100 128 161 203 259 321 
			 High longevity 100 128 161 204 260 323 
			 Low fertility 100 128 160 199 248 300 
			 Low life expectancy 100 128 161 203 258 319 
			 Low migration 100 127 158 196 247 303 
			 Low population 100 127 157 191 235 280 
			 1.75 per cent. productivity 100 125 153 189 235 284 
			 2.25 per cent. productivity 100 131 169 219 286 363 
		
	
	
		
			  Second chart from Box 5.B 
			  GDP per capita  2009  2019  2029  2039  2049  2059 
			 ONS Principal 100 119 142 171 209 251 
			 High longevity 100 119 141 169 205 244 
			 Low fertility 100 121 145 173 212 252 
			 Low life expectancy 100 120 142 173 213 258 
			 Low migration 100 120 142 170 208 250 
			 Low population 100 121 145 175. 215 260 
			 1.75 per cent. productivity 100 117 135 159 189 222 
			 2.25 per cent. productivity 100 123 149 184 231 283 
		
	
	
		
			  Data from chart 6.B 
			  Percentage 
			  Health  2009-10  2019-20  2029-30  2039-40  2049-50  2059-60 
			 High longevity 8.0 8.6 9.4 10.1 10.5 11.0 
			 Low fertility 8.0 8.4 9.2 10.0 10.4 11.0 
			 Low life expectancy 8.0 8.5 9.3 9.9 10.1 10.4 
			 Low population 8.0 8.4 9.3 10.1 10.5 11.1 
			 ONS Principal 8.0 8.5 9.3 10.0 10.3 10.7 
			 2.25 Productivity 8.0 8.6 9.3 9.8 10.0 10.3 
			 1.75 Productivity 8.0 8.5 9.4 10.2 10.7 11.2 
			 Earnings and CPI growth 8.0 8.1 8.3 8.4 8.1 8.0 
			 Falling drug prices 8.0 8.2 8.8 9.3 9.5 9.8 
			 Healthy ageing 8.0 8.5 8.9 9.3 9.4 9.7 
		
	
	
		
			  Data from chart 6.C 
			  Percentage 
			  Long-term care  2009-10  2019-20  2029-30  2039-40  2049-50  2059-60 
			 High longevity 1.2 1.4 1.7 2.1 2.4 2.7 
			 Low fertility 1.2 1.4 1.7 2.0 2.2 2.4 
			 Low life expectancy 1.2 1.4 1.6 1.8 1.9 1.9 
			 Low migration 1.2 1.4 1.7 2.0 2.2 2.3 
			 Low population 1.2 1.4 1.7 1.9 2.0 2.0 
			 ONS Principal 1.2 1.4 1.7 1.9 2.1 2.2 
			 2.25 Productivity 1.2 1.4 1.7 2.0 2.1 2.3 
			 1.75 Productivity 1.2 1.4 1.7 1.9 2.1 2.2 
			 Constant health 1.2 1.4 1.6 1.7 1.8 1.9 
		
	
	
		
			  Data from chart 6.D 
			  Percentage 
			  Education  2009-10  2019-20  2029-30  2039-40  2049-50  2059-60 
			 High longevity 6.0 5.9 6.0 5.8 5.7 5.7 
			 Low fertility 6.0 5.7 5.4 5.3 5.1 5.1 
			 Low life expectancy 6.0 5.9 6.0 5.8 5.7 5.8 
			 Low migration 6.0 5.9 5.9 5.8 5.7 5.8 
			 Low population 6.0 5.7 5.4 5.3 5.1 5.1 
			 ONS Principal 6.0 5.9 6.0 5.8 5.7 5.8 
			 2.25 Productivity 6.0 6.0 6.0 5.9 5.7 5.8 
			 1.75 Productivity 6.0 5.8 5.9 5.7 5.6 5.7 
		
	
	
		
			  Data from chart 6.E 
			  Percentage 
			  Public service pensions  2009-10  2019-20  2029-30  2039-40  2049-50  2059-60 
			 High longevity 1.8 1.9 1.9 1.8 1.7 1.8 
			 Low life expectancy 1.8 1.9 1.9 1.8 1.7 1.7 
			 ONS Principal 1.8 1.9 1.9 1.8 1.7 1.7 
			 2.25 Productivity 1.8 1.9 1.9 1.8 1.6 1.6 
			 1.75 Productivity 1.8 1.9 2.0 1.9 1.8 1.8 
		
	
	
		
			  Data from chart 6. F 
			  Percentage 
			  Pensions  2009-10  2019-20  2029-30  2039-40  2049-50  2059-60 
			 High longevity 5.5 5.3 5.9 6.5 6.5 7.4 
			 Low fertility 5.5 5.3 6.0 6.7 6.8 8.0 
			 Low life expectancy 5.5 5.3 5.9 6.5 6.6 7.5 
			 Low migration 5.5 5.3 6.1 6.8 6.8 7.9 
			 Low population 5.5 5.3 6.1 6.9 7.2 8.5 
			 ONS Principal 5.5 5.3 5.9 6.5 6.5 7.4 
			 2.25 Productivity 5.5 5.2 5.7 6.1 6.0 6.7 
			 1.75 Productivity 5.5 5.3 6.2 6.9 7.1 8.3 
		
	
	
		
			  Data from chart 6.H 
			  Percentage 
			  Taxes on income and wealth  2009-10  2019-20  2029-30  2039-40  2049-50  2059-60 
			 High longevity 11.6 11.6 11.6 11.7 11.5 11.7 
			 Low life expectancy 11.6 11.6 11.6 11.6 11.4 11.5 
			 Low migration 11.6 11.6 11.5 11.6 11.4 11.5 
			 Low population 11.6 11.6 11.6 11.7 11.5 11.5 
			 ONS Principal 11.6 11.6 11.6 11.6 11.5 11.6 
			 2.25 Productivity 11.6 11.8 11.8 11.8 11.6 11.7 
			 1.75 Productivity 11.6 11.5 11.5 11.5 11.3 11.4 
			 Increased part-time (50 years) 11.6 11.5 11.4 11.4 11.1 11.1 
			 Low fertility 11.6 11.6 11.6 11.8 11.6 11.7 
		
	
	
		
			  Data from chart 6.1 
			  Percentage 
			  Taxes on consumptio n and production  2009-10  2019-20  2029-30  2039-40  2049-50  2059-60 
			 High longevity 11.1 11.2 11.3 11.4 11.3 11.4 
			 Low life expectancy 11.1 11.2 11.3 11.2 11.1 11.1 
			 Low migration 11.1 11.1 11.3 11.3 11.2 11.3 
			 Low population 11.1 11.1 11.2 11.3 11.2 11.3 
			 ONS Principal 11.1 11.2 11.3 11.3 11.2 11.3 
			 2.25 Productivity 11.1 11.3 11.4 11.5 11.3 11.4 
			 1.75 Productivity 11.1 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.0 11.2 
			 Reduced tobaccos and alcohol 11.1 11.1 11.2 11.1 11.0 11.0 
			 Increased tobacco and alcohol 11.1 11.2 11.4 11.5 11.5 11.6 
			 Low fertility 11.1 11.2 11.3 11.4 11.3 11.4

Welfare Tax Credits

John Battle: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the longest time has been between a tax credit claim being made and payment being started for  (a) a UK national  (b) all non-UK EEA nationals,  (c) a A8 EEA national,  (d) a A2 EEA national and  (e) a non-European national in (i) 2005-06, (ii) 2006-07, (iii) 2007-08 and (iv) 2008-09.

Stephen Timms: The specific information requested is only available at disproportionate cost.
	For information about HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) targets and performance outturn in relation to tax credit in 2007-08 and earlier years, I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Northavon (Steve Webb) on 24 February 2009,  Official Report, columns 534-36W. Information for 2008-09 was published at paragraph 2.6 in the HMRC departmental report published at:
	www.hmrc.gov.uk/about/dept-ann-rep09.pdf
	More complex claims, including those from customers arriving from abroad, often require HMRC to make more detailed inquiries, and so HMRC may be unable to process and pay them within the usual target times. HMRC is continuously working to identify how resources can be most effectively deployed to achieve its revised aims.

Australia: Foreign Relations

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he next expects to meet his Australian counterpart to discuss  (a) UK-Australian relations and  (b) global issues.

Chris Bryant: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State speaks to Stephen Smith, his Australian counter-part on a regular basis on a full range of issues including climate change, Afghanistan, Fiji and the Commonwealth and UK-Australian relations. The last formal bilateral talks were held in the UK in November 2008. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State met Stephen Smith at the time of the UN General Assembly in October 2009 in New York. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State hopes to meet his Australian counterpart at the Afghanistan Conference due to be held in London in January 2010.

Falkland Islands: Oil

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what measures are being taken to mitigate potential adverse environmental effects arising from drilling for oil off the Falkland Islands.

Chris Bryant: Companies drilling in Falkland Islands waters must take the same measures they would if they were drilling in UK waters. All companies have to complete environmental impact assessments which must be approved by the Falkland Islands Government in consultation with the Department for Energy and Climate Change. The Government also fund external reviews of assessments by UK institutions such as the Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment and the Scottish Association of Marine Science.

Government Hospitality: Wines

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 15 December 2009 to the hon. Member for Monmouth,  Official Report, column 1033W, on Government Departments: wine, how many bottles of wine from each  (a) region of origin and  (b) vintage are held in the Government hospitality wine cellar.

Chris Bryant: It is not possible to give a detailed breakdown of the numbers of bottles per vintage of each country and region without incurring disproportionate costs. I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my hon. Friend the Member for Lincoln (Gillian Merron) to the hon. Member for Welwyn Hatfield (Grant Shapps) on 20 April 2009,  Official Report, column 512W.

Kosovo: Politics and Government

Michael Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the Government's policy is on the United Nations General Assembly Resolution on an advisory opinion from the International Court of Justice on Kosovo's declaration of independence; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Bryant: The UK abstained on the UN General Assembly resolution seeking an advisory opinion from the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on the legality of Kosovo's declaration of independence. We strongly support the Court, but believe that Serbia's primary motivation for the question was political and that the resolution was pushed through with insufficient debate on its substance.
	The UK has participated actively in the Court's proceedings, making two written submissions and an oral statement.
	The UK explained to the Court that the declaration of independence was not incompatible with either general international law or UN Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1244. UNSCR 1244 set a framework for status negotiations; it did not predestine any particular outcome. The negotiating process was pursued with commitment by many, including the international community. However, these exhaustive attempts to achieve an agreed resolution ultimately failed. This led the UN Special Envoy for the Future Status Process for Kosovo to conclude that independence was the only viable solution.
	A number of very particular factual circumstances, including the violent break-up of Yugoslavia, serious human rights abuses against Kosovo Albanians by Serbia, and the sustained involvement of the international community in the attempt to achieve a resolution make Kosovo a sui generis case which creates no wider precedent for developments elsewhere.
	To date, 64 countries have recognised Kosovo and it is now a member of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank. The clock cannot be turned back on Kosovo's independence-it is a reality.
	The text of the UK submissions to the Court are available on the ICJ website:
	http://www.icj-cij.org

Members: Correspondence

Patrick McLoughlin: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he expects to reply to the letter from the right hon. Member for West Derbyshire of 10 September 2009 concerning the visa section in Benghazi, Libya ref: PM/OP/Shafie.

Phil Woolas: holding answer 14 December 2009
	I have been asked to reply.
	A reply from my hon. Friend, the Member for Hackney, South and Shoreditch (Meg Hillier) was sent on 10 December 2009.

Sri Lanka

Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs with reference to the answer of 26 June 2009,  Official Report, columns 1154-5W, on Sri Lanka, when the next visit to Sri Lanka by a cross-party delegation of hon. Members sponsored by his Department will take place; and if he will make a statement.

Ivan Lewis: There are no plans at the present time for a visit by a cross-party delegation of MPs to Sri Lanka. The Government continues to maintain high level engagement with the Government of Sri Lanka through regular visits, meetings and telephone calls. Most recently Permanent Under-Secretary of State for International Development Mike Foster visited Sri Lanka in October 2009. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary met Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Bogollagama in the margins of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Trinidad in November 2009 to discuss the current humanitarian situation and progress on a political solution to the conflict in Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka: Politics and Government

Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment has been made of the Sri Lankan Government's progress towards political reconciliation in the country since the end of the military conflict with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam in May 2009; and if he will make a statement.

Ivan Lewis: At the end of May the Sri Lankan President issued a joint statement with UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon recognising the need to work towards a lasting political solution. The UK has consistently maintained that one of the prerequisites for lasting peace in Sri Lanka is a political settlement that fully takes into account the legitimate grievances and aspirations of all communities. Presidential elections have now been announced for 26 January 2010.
	Parliamentary elections in spring 2010 will be a further opportunity for the voice of Sri Lanka's communities to be heard. Free, fair and credible elections will allow Sri Lanka's communities to have their say in shaping the country's future. Adequate arrangements must be made to ensure that internally displaced persons can vote in upcoming elections.
	It is important for all those who want to play a role in Sri Lanka's future to agree to an inclusive political solution that addresses the underlying causes of the conflict. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary released a written ministerial statement on 15 December 2009, which gives a detailed assessment of the political situation in Sri Lanka. A link to the Statement can be found at the following internet address:
	http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200910/cmhansrd/cm091215/wmstext/91215m0003.htm#09121534000482

Sri Lanka: War Crimes

Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment has been made of the Sri Lankan Government's progress towards establishing an accountability mechanism for allegations of war crimes which took place during the military conflict in the north of the country; and if he will make a statement.

Ivan Lewis: The EU has made clear its belief that accountability is integral to the process of reconciliation. We therefore welcome President Rajapakse's decision to appoint an independent committee to look into the incidents cited in the US State Department's report. We will continue to press the Government of Sri Lanka to live up to this and the earlier commitment made by President Rajapakse to UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon in May to take measures to address possible violations of international humanitarian law. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary released a written ministerial statement on 15 December 2009, which gives a detailed assessment of the political situation in Sri Lanka. A link to the statement can be found at the following internet address:
	http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200910/cmhansrd/cm091215/wmstext/91215m0003.htm#09121534000482

Travel Information

Adam Holloway: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much his Department has spent on the  (a) Another side to paradise campaign,  (b) Don't be a Dick campaign,  (c) Don't miss out campaign and  (d) each other campaign co-ordinated by his Department aimed at Britons travelling abroad in each year since 2001.

Chris Bryant: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave on 26 October 2009,  Official Report, column 68W
	In addition to the information included in my previous answer, the cost of the 'Don't be a Dick' campaign was approximately £38,000 in 2008-09 and approximately £11,800 in 2009-10.

War Crimes: Judiciary

William Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his policy is on extending the mandate of the international judges and prosecutors serving in the War Crimes Chamber of the State Court in Bosnia-Herzegovina; and if he will make a statement.

David Miliband: The Government believe that international judges and prosecutors serving in the War Crimes Chamber of the State Court in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) make an important contribution to the justice system in BiH, and to the ability of the country to meet its international obligations in respect of cooperation with International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia.
	Despite repeated requests to do so from the High Representative and Steering Board of the Peace Implementation Council, the BiH authorities have failed to extend the mandate of these judges and prosecutors.
	The Government therefore strongly support High Representative Inzko's 14 December 2009 decision to extend the mandate of international judges and prosecutors working in the war crimes department of the court of BiH.

Council Tax: Valuation

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government with reference to the answer of 2 November 2009,  Official Report, column 759W, on council tax: valuation, whether the addition of a greenhouse is considered by the Valuation Office Agency to be  (a) a material increase and  (b) value significant for the purpose of council tax valuation and revaluation.

Barbara Follett: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Lord Bates on 6 November 2009,  Official Report, column 96W.

Fire Services

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government on how many occasions fire and rescue authorities have been unable to cope with a major fire or incident since 1979; and which fire control room was involved in each case.

Shahid Malik: The Fire and Rescue Service provides an effective and professional response to the incidents they face, making the best possible use of the equipment and technology available to them at any given point. The Fire and Resilience programme will deliver greater capability, resilience and inter-operability to the Fire and Rescue Service to equip them to meet the challenges they face now and in the future.

Fire Services

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what his most recent estimate is of the cost to the public purse of the New Dimension programme; and what budget was set for that programme at its inception.

Shahid Malik: CLG's New Dimension project (formerly a programme) was established in 2001 to enhance the capability of the Fire and Rescue Service (FRS) to respond to major incidents whether caused by terrorist attacks or natural disasters. The estimated budget for the project at that initial stage was £318 million to procure, deliver and implement these new resilience capabilities within the FRS. This did not include ongoing resource costs to the FRS to support the continuing delivery of these capabilities which have already responded to several national events such as the Buncefield oil depot fire in 2005, the widespread 2007 floods and more recently the Cumbrian floods, as well as being mobilised around 200 times each quarter to local events.
	At the end of financial year 2008-09, the Department had invested a total of £425 million in the New Dimension project, although owing to a difference in view over the accounting used, the National Audit Office estimated costs as some £30 million lower, in its value for money review in 2008.
	The overall £425 million cost includes an amount of continuation funding for FRSs including crewing costs which over recent years has amounted to around £14-£15 million per annum.
	In 2008, Ministers announced a funding package totalling £80million over the current spending review period to enable the ongoing delivery of New Dimension capabilities by the FRS. The total New Dimension costs up until 2008-09 includes nearly £24 million of this amount, with a further £56 million allocated until the end of 2010-11.

Fire Services: Finance

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government with reference to the answer to Lord Hanningfield of 18 December 2007,  Official Report,  House of Lords, column 117WA, and to the answer to the hon. Member for Copeland of 2 November 2009,  Official Report, column 764W, on fire services: finance, what his most recent estimate is of the total cost to the public purse of regional fire control rooms over 15 years; and on what estimate of the time taken to implement the FiReControl project the estimated cost of £420 million was based.

Shahid Malik: Our most recent estimates of the cost over the 15 year period are set out in the FiReControl Business Case published on 6 May 2009.
	Under current planning assumptions the first regional fire control centres are expected to become operational in spring 2011 and the last Fire and Rescue Service will switch over by the end of 2012.

Fire Services: Finance

Bob Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much has been spent on the FiReControl project; and what the estimated  (a) gross and  (b) net cost of that project is in each of the next five years.

Shahid Malik: The expenditure to date on the project is approximately £190 million. The estimated remaining FiReControl implementation project cost is circa £230 million. Beyond implementation Communities and Local Government has also committed to support any Fire and Rescue Authority for whom operating costs are forecast to increase under the new networked control arrangements. The current estimate for this is £8.2 million each year.

Fire Services: Finance

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government with reference to the answer to the hon. Member for Peterborough of 20 July 2009,  Official Report, column 811W, on fire services, if he will publish an updated estimated gross total cost of the FiReControl project.

Shahid Malik: The estimated total cost of implementing the FiReControl project is £420 million.

Fire Services: Industrial Disputes

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what guidance has been issued by  (a) his Department,  (b) Firebuy and  (c) the Fire Service College on actions which contingency staff are permitted to take in circumstances in which fire services are affected by industrial action to train on fire appliances currently used by fire-fighters.

Shahid Malik: No advice has been issued by my Department, Firebuy, or the Fire Service college, on the circumstances in which contingency staff are permitted to train on fire appliances or cross picket lines when a fire and rescue service is affected by industrial action. The provision of emergency fire cover during disputes is the responsibility of fire and rescue services, and it is for them to ensure any staff they commission directly or indirectly have received the necessary training and guidance.

Fires: Smoking

Bob Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether his Department's fire research programme has undertaken research into  (a) the effects of the ban on smoking in public places on the incidence of smoking-related domestic fires and  (b) the proportion of domestic fires which occur as a result of smoking in the home since 2007.

Shahid Malik: No research has been carried out from the Department's fire and resilience research programme into  (a) the effects of the ban on smoking in public places on the incidence of smoking related domestic fires or  (b) the proportion of domestic fires which occur as a result of smoking in the home since 2007.
	However, Fire and Rescue Services record details of incidents attended and the proportion of domestic fires which occur as a result of smoking in the home since 2007 are shown in the table.
	
		
			  Accidental dwelling fires, England, 2007 and 2008( 1) 
			  Percentage 
			  Source of ignition  2007  2008( 1) 
			 Smokers' materials 6.7 5.9 
			 Cigarette lighters 1.2 0.7 
			 Matches 0.7 0.6 
			
			 Total number 34,960 32,872 
			 (1) Provisional. Data for total dwelling fires 2008 is provisional and subject to change.   Source: Fire Incident Records database, Communities and Local Government

Flood Control

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what his most recent assessment is of progress in the implementation of recommendation 38 of the Pitt Report on flooding in respect of the number of mutual aid agreements with local authorities; and what recent assessment he has made of the effectiveness of such agreements.

Dawn Butler: I have been asked to reply 
	to the hon. Member's question as the Cabinet Office published the 'Mutual Aid-A short guide for local authorities' guidance.
	Progress on local implementation of the Pitt recommendations is included in the progress report on the Government's response to the Pitt review which was published on 15 December by the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs.

Local Government: Pensions

Bob Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what plans he has for the future of the Local Government Pension Scheme.

Barbara Follett: The Government will continue to ensure that the Local Government Pension Scheme in England and Wales remains affordable, viable and fair to taxpayers while providing decent pensions for its members. Working closely with all scheme stakeholders, we will be taking forward the announcement made in the pre Budget report about the savings to be made by public service pension schemes, including the LGPS, from 2012-13 onwards.

Non-Domestic Rates

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government with reference to the answer to the hon. Member for Putney of 10 November 2009,  Official Report, column 283W, on non-domestic rates: valuation, how many hereditaments in each billing authority or closest administrative unit there are in each special category code on the draft 2010 Rating List.

Barbara Follett: I have placed in the Library of the House a table showing the number of hereditaments for England broken down by the full alphanumeric special category code and billing authority on the draft 2010 Rating Lists as at 2 November 2009. These data are consistent with the statistical release titled: "Non-domestic rateable values: 2010 Local Ratings Lists-England and Wales" published on 18 December 2009. A copy of this statistical release is available at the following link:
	http://www.voa.gov.uk/publications/statistical_releases/VOA_Statistics_Release_Final.pdf
	The number of hereditaments in each special category code has been rounded to the nearest 10.
	The five-yearly business rates revaluations make sure each business pays its fair contribution and no more by ensuring the share of the national rates bill paid by any one business reflects changes over time in the value of their property relative to others. The 2010 revaluation will not raise a single extra penny for Government.
	Ratepayers occupying over a million properties will see their business rate liabilities come down as a result of revaluation. The Government intend to put in place a £2 billion relief scheme to limit the impact on the minority with bill increases. This is on top of the wider support available to help ease business pressures including discounted rate bills for small businesses and deferring tax payments.

Non-Domestic Rates

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government with reference to the answer to the hon. Member for Putney of 10 November 2009,  Official Report, columns 281-83W, on non-domestic rates: valuation, how many hereditaments on the 1995 Rating List were in each special category code in 1997.

Barbara Follett: The available information requested has been deposited in the Library and relates to information contained in the 1995 Rating List as at 1 April 1997. Figures have been rounded to the nearest 10. The table is based on SCAT codes applicable at the time. The use of SCAT codes for some categories has changed since 1997.

Non-Domestic Rates

Bob Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government with reference to the Statement of Lord McKenzie of 14 October 2009,  Official Report,  House of Lords, column 298, on non-domestic rating regulations, if he will place in the Library a copy of the correspondence between his Department and the Inspector General of the Insolvency Service.

Barbara Follett: A copy of the correspondence was placed in the House Library in February 2009 accompanying a letter dated 10 February from my right hon. Friend the Member for Wentworth (John Healey) and my right hon. Friend the Member for East Ham (Mr. Timms) to Michael Fallon, Chairman of the Treasury Sub-Committee.

Non-Domestic Rates: Empty Property

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government with reference to the answer to the hon. Member for Putney of 13 July 2009,  Official Report, column 131W, on non-domestic rates: empty property, if he will place in the Library a copy of the representations from the six trade bodies; and what the names are of the 349 groups making written representations, excluding any which have requested confidentiality.

Barbara Follett: The representations from the six trade bodies have been placed in the House Library. The names of other groups that made representations to my Department are:
	Association of Convenience Stores;
	Institute of Revenues, Rating and Valuation;
	The Company of Cutlers in Hallamshire;
	Weymouth Chamber of Commerce;
	Portsmouth Chamber of Commerce;
	Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors.
	The names of private individuals who made representations are not being disclosed on data protection grounds.
	Our reforms to empty property relief are principled and right for the long-term. They provide a strong incentive on owners to bring empty property back into use, helping to improve access to premises for businesses and so to exert a downward pressure on commercial rents.
	However, we provided owners with real help to manage short-term pressures in a difficult property market by exempting all empty properties with rateable values up to £15,000 from business rates in 2009-10.
	We have listened to the continued concerns of owners and are extending the temporary measure for a further 12 months-to cover the whole of 2010-11-and we are uprating the threshold to £18,000 in line with the general movement of property values at revaluation.

Non-Domestic Rates: Entertainments

Bob Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what methodology is to be used by the Valuation Office Agency to value travelling funfairs and circuses for the purposes of the 2010 business rates revaluation.

Barbara Follett: Travelling funfairs and circuses do not, by their nature, occupy a permanent site for shows and will not, therefore, be valued for rating. The permanent occupiers of these sites may be liable to rates, e.g. as a car park and valued as such. Winter quarters, where a permanent retained occupation, will be liable to rates.

Non-Domestic Rates: Public Houses

Bob Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government with reference to the answer of 9 November 2009,  Official Report, column 75W, on non-domestic rates: public houses, whether an assessment has been made of the effect of the rates revaluation on  (a) public houses and  (b) post offices which have diversified.

Barbara Follett: No estimates of the likely bills after revaluation have been made for public houses or post offices which have been diversified, these will contain not only transitional relief, but also all other reliefs, some of which will be determined by the billing authority in question .
	The five-yearly business rates revaluations make sure each business pays its fair contribution and no more by ensuring that the share of the national rates bill paid by any one business reflects changes over time in the value of their property relative to others. The 2010 revaluation will not raise a single extra penny for Government.
	Over a million properties will see their business rate liabilities come down as a result of revaluation. The Government intend to put in place a £2 billion relief scheme to limit the impact on the minority with bill increases. This is on top of the wider support available to help ease business pressures including discounted rate bills for small businesses and deferring tax payments.

Offenders

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many employees of his Department and its agencies have been convicted of a criminal offence of each type in each year since 1997.

Barbara Follett: Less than five employees of Communities and Local Government have been convicted of a criminal offence in total since 1997. Publication of further details could breach our rules of confidentiality and are thus, not provided.

Apprentices: Leeds

John Battle: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills 
	(1)  how many apprenticeships there were in Leeds in each year since 1997;
	(2)  how many apprenticeships there were in Leeds West constituency in each year since 1997.

Kevin Brennan: Information on the number of apprenticeship starts are published in a quarterly statistical first release (SFR). The latest SFR was published on 22 October at:
	http://www.thedataservice.org.uk/statistics/sfroct09/
	Supplementary table 6.1 shows apprenticeship starts by region, local authority and parliamentary constituency from 2003/04, the earliest year for which we have comparable data.

Bankruptcy

Norman Baker: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills how many bankruptcies of  (a) individuals in each age group resident in and  (b) businesses based in (i) Lewes constituency and (ii) East Sussex there have been in (A) 2008 and (B) 2009 to date.

Ian Lucas: Figures for bankrupts in East Sussex and Lewes constituency in 2008 are shown in table 1.
	
		
			  Table 1: Bankruptcies in 2008 
			   Age Group( 1) 
			  Area( 2)  Under 25  25-34  35-44  45-54  55-64  65+  Unknown 
			 East Sussex 26 146 194 152 64 36 79 
			 Lewes 1 13 25 16 10 3 16 
			 (1) Where the bankrupt has provided a valid date of birth (93.4 per cent. in 2008). (2) Where the bankrupt has provided a valid postcode (96.9 per cent. in 2008). 
		
	
	Self-employed traders may be declared bankrupt (or enter into an individual voluntary arrangement (IVA)), however, registered companies are the subject of liquidation (compulsory liquidation or creditors voluntary liquidation (CVL)).
	Table 2 shows the number of self-employed traders who were declared bankrupt in 2008.
	
		
			  Table 2: Bankruptcies among sole traders in 2008 
			  Area( 1)  Number 
			 East Sussex 138 
			 Lewes 28 
			 (1) Where the bankrupt has provided a valid postcode (96.9 per cent. in 2008). 
		
	
	Regional figures for 2009 are not currently available for bankruptcies, as they are
	compiled on an annual basis.
	Statistics covering corporate insolvencies are not currently available at a sub-national level within England and Wales.

Business: West Midlands

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps his Department is taking to encourage business investment in the West Midlands.

Rosie Winterton: holding answer 16 December 2009
	As part of its objectives to build a strong economy Government are providing a wide range of support to encourage business investment, both in the West Midlands and across the country as a whole.
	In the PBR we announced our intention to continue to support business until recovery is secured. We are doing this through, for example, the Enterprise Finance Guarantee (EFG) Scheme which has been extended by 12 months. In the West Midlands, as of 9 December, lenders have logged 681 eligible cases with a value of £68.49 million, of which, 643 EFG loans have been offered amounting to £64.41 million. So far 538 EFG loans have been drawn down with a value of £52.48 million. We also announced the extension of empty property relief for a further year, estimated to cover 76 per cent. of empty properties in the West Midlands.
	We are also taking action to ensure the foundations for growth are in place as we emerge from the economic downturn. As a result of Government bringing forward capital expenditure, Advantage West Midlands (AWM) has been able to invest £11.2 million to allow early commencement of work to redevelop Birmingham New Street Station, creating up to 400 new jobs and £1.8 million to accelerate the redevelopment of the former MG Rover site at Longbridge Birmingham, enabling an early start to the relocation of Bourneville college, securing 250 construction jobs. Furthermore, 9 per cent. of orders under the vehicle scrappage scheme have been placed in the West Midlands, which is broadly in line with car ownership in the region.
	On 10 November we launched Partnerships for Growth: A national framework for regional and local economic development. The objectives of which include raising the rate of sustainable economic growth, increasing employment and increasing the economic performance of all English regions. AWM is already contributing to this agenda through, for example, delivering over 12,805 Business Link Health Checks by the end of November 2009 and jointly investing £40 million with EMDA in the £130 million world-class Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC)-a world-class research organisation to support companies and their supply chains in improving their manufacturing competitiveness. It is also providing investment in low carbon technology through its £2.4 million support for the Low Carbon Vehicle Demonstrator project and its £19 million support for the Low Carbon Vehicle Technology Programme, to accelerate the introduction of the next generation ultra low vehicle carbon vehicle.
	AWM provides a range of other measures to help business. It has, for example, between April and September 2009, made grants totalling £736,000 to 15 companies for research and development and grants totalling £3.8 million to 46 companies for business investment. Through its Advantage Transition Fund, which ended in November 2009, it has made loans of more than £10 million. Arrangements are now being put in place for a successor fund, as part of a £44.8 million business support fund which includes:
	An Early Stage Equity fund of £8 million;
	A Growth Equity fund of £9.2 million, matched by the same amount from the private sector, and;
	A Mezzanine fund of £9.2 million, also matched by the private sector.
	Last year AWM was involved in a record number of inward investment success such as the expansion of Deutsche Bank, which now employs 500 people in the region. This year it has been involved in a further 21 projects creating 645 jobs, with others in the pipeline, which it is hoped will lead to over 900 further jobs.
	UKTI in the West Midlands is supporting companies in a variety of ways to grow their businesses internationally. It has supported over 540 companies so far this year to increase their exports through a variety of supported programmes including Passport to Export, a scheme for novice exporters to help them to export strategically and Gateway to Global Growth, for companies with two to 10 years exporting experience. Using additional funding provided by Advantage West Midlands, UKTI has so far assisted 330 companies to increase exports, which has lead to 45 jobs being created and 91 jobs safeguarded.

Departmental Billing

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills how many and what proportion of invoices submitted to his Department have been paid within 10 days in each month since October 2008; and if he will make a statement.

Patrick McFadden: The following tables show (i) the volume of invoices received by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) since June 2009 and (ii) the percentage of invoices paid within 10 days by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills and its predecessors the Department for Business. Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR) and the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills (DIUS) since November 2008.
	Figures prior to June 2009 and November 2008 respectively are not available.
	
		
			  Month  Volume of invoices received by BIS 
			 June 2009 3,048 
			 July 2009 3,113 
			 August 2009 2,468 
			 September 2009 2,402 
			 October 2009 2,674 
			 November 2009 2,675 
		
	
	
		
			  10 day payment  Percentage 
			  BERR  
			 November 2008 93.10 
			 December 2008 96.9 
			 January 2009 96.7 
			 February 2009 96.2 
			 March 2009 97.02 
			 April 2009 96.30 
			 May 2009 89.7 
			   
			  DIUS  
			 November 2008 89.5 
			 December 2008 96.0 
			 January 2009 91.0 
			 February 2009 96.0 
			 March 2009 95.0 
			 April 2009 76.0 
			 May 2009 81.0 
			   
			  BIS  
			 June 2009 92.3 
			 July 2009 94.9 
			 August 2009 95.0 
			 September 2009 95.5 
			 October 2009 96.5 
			 November 2009 94.8

EU Globalisation Fund

James Clappison: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills how many applications the UK has made to the EU Globalisation Adjustment Fund; how many  (a) have been approved,  (b) have been declined and  (c) are outstanding; and what assessment he has made of the net cost or benefit to the UK of the Fund.

Angela Eagle: I will answer this question as responsibility for the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund (EGF) falls to my Department.
	On the first part of the question, the UK has not made any applications to the EGF. All current member state applications and their status can be viewed on the European Commission's EGF website at
	http://ec.europa.eu/social/main.jsp?catId=582&langId=en.
	As part of the Government's response to the economic downturn, we have used the European Social Fund to the same effect as the EGF, investing in a combination of services that have proved to be effective in helping workers and areas affected by restructuring. The EGF can not duplicate use of other European funding.
	On the second part, approved applications to the Fund have to date been financed from in-year transfers from areas of expected low implementation within the EU Budget, at no immediate impact to member states contributions. Unspent funds in one year, however, are used to finance the following year, thus reducing the amount of funding required from member states in that year. The UK's share of financing applications approved so far in 2009 is abateable, and the net cost to the UK over the 2009 and 2010 period of these applications would be around £2.05 million.
	As to the benefits, the Government will look positively at a specific case where it can be shown that the EGF would add value to national, regional or local measures and initiatives. In particular, it is important to marshal all resources available to help those struggling to find work so that they can move into jobs in growth sectors and be a part of the economic recovery.

Learning and Skills Council for England: Public Relations

Nick Hurd: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what payments the Learning and Skills Council has made to  (a) Fishburn Hedges and  (b) Weber Shandwick Public Affairs in each of the last three years; for what purposes; and if he will place in the Library a copy of the contract under which such payments have been made.

Kevin Brennan: The Department does not hold this level of information. The Learning and Skills Council makes decisions about any work it contracts for specific projects based upon its own business needs. Geoff Russell, the Council's Acting Chief Executive, will write to the Hon. Member with further information.
	 Letter from Geoff Russell, dated 8 December 2009:
	I am writing in reply to your recent Parliamentary Question that you asked the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, on what payments the Learning and Skills Council has made to (a) Fishburn Hedges and (b) Weber Shandwick Public Affairs in each of the last three years; at what cost; and for what purpose.
	I can confirm that:
	Fishburn Hedges currently works on two specific projects for the Learning and Skills Council and that this is contracted via the Central Office of Information (COI) on:
	Skills for Life: Get On. The campaign is designed to promote the importance of improving literacy and numeracy skills to adults.
	Skills for employers: incorporating Train to Gain/Skills Pledge/National Skills Academy/Training Quality Standard: The campaign is designed to promote the skills offer to employers in a clear and concise manner:
	Fishburn Hedges is not contracted to work directly for the Learning and Skills Council and any procured projects are managed through COI.
	Fishburn Hedges has worked on Skills for Life: Get On, for the Learning and Skills Council via COI, since April 2008.
	Fishburn Hedges has worked on the employer campaign for the Learning and Skills Council via COI, since July 2009.
	The costs paid by the LSC via COI to Fishburn Hedges are as follows:
	Skills for Life: April 2008 to March 2009-£378,583 ex VAT
	Skills for Life: April 2009 to date-£151,086 ex VAT
	Employers: July 2009 to date-£124,968 ex VAT
	Weber Shandwick Public Affairs, in the past 3 years, has worked on one specific project for the Learning and Skills Council.
	The LSC engaged Weber Shandwick Public Affairs to provide information to and on public affairs and media arenas in relation to the education and skills sector for the LSC's public affairs team. Weber Shandwick did not speak on behalf of the LSC or represent the organisation at events. Their contract concluded in April 2008 and the LSC no longer retains an agency for this purpose.
	The total amount paid by the LSC to Weber Shandwick for the last 3 years was £44,255 ex VAT.
	Weber Shandwick public relations team (i.e. not the Public Affairs team) was also appointed by the Learning and Skills Council via COI between February and November 2009 to secure the engagement of large employers in the direct delivery of Apprenticeships, Skills for Life and Train to Gain to meet targets set.
	The total amount paid by the LSC via COI was £195,200 ex VAT.

Royal Mail: Disciplinary Proceedings

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills how many postal workers were disciplined for failing to attempt to deliver parcels and delivering 'sorry you were out' slips instead in each of the last three years; what discussions he has had with representatives of Royal Mail on the matter; and if he will make a statement.

Patrick McFadden: Disciplining of its staff by Royal Mail for any operational failings is a matter for the company's management. I have therefore asked the Chief Executive of Royal Mail, Adam Crozier, to provide you with a reply to your question.
	A copy of his reply will be placed in the Libraries of the House.

Palestinians: Overseas Aid

William Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development pursuant to the answer of 30 November 2009,  Official Report, column 435W, on Gaza: reconstruction, what reasons the government of Israel has given for preventing the entry into Gaza of building materials for reconstruction funded by his Department; and what his policy is on securing entry for such materials.

Michael Foster: There are two main reasons given by the Government of Israel for preventing entry of reconstruction materials into Gaza.
	Firstly, Israel has expressed concerns that materials such as steel pipes or cement could be misused or misappropriated by Hamas and other organisations in Gaza to build weapons or defensive structures. We recognise that Israel has legitimate security concerns and that there is a risk some items could have a dual use. However, we believe with robust monitoring it is possible to address these concerns. The United Nations and other agencies have had extensive discussions with the Government of Israel over practical safeguards against diversion or misuse. Moreover, many items required to repair damaged homes and other infrastructure are not dual-use-such as plastic piping and glass. We have not received specific explanations from Israel of why the import of such items has been blocked or delayed.
	Secondly, Israeli Ministers have noted that the continuing detention of Gilad Shalit and Hamas's refusal to renounce violence creates a wider political context for restrictions on movement of people and goods into and out of Gaza. The UK Government continue to call for the immediate, unconditional release of Gilad Shalit and for Hamas to renounce violence and recognise Israel's right to exist in peace and security. We do not accept, however, that access for humanitarian aid and aid workers should be linked to such considerations, nor that the import of materials needed to rebuild houses, schools, medical facilities and other critical infrastructure should be contingent on Hamas's actions.

Sri Lanka: Internally Displaced Persons

Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment has been made of the Sri Lankan government's progress in resettling internally displaced persons in the north of the country; and if he will make a statement.

Michael Foster: The United Nations reported that as of the 10 December 2009 approximately 160,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) have been released from the closed camps in Sri Lanka. Of this number, around 131,000 people have been returned to their districts of origin and 29,000 people are either living with host families or in institutions. This represents progress by the Government of Sri Lanka towards their own target of returning 80 per cent. of the IDP population from the camps to their areas of origin by the end of 2009.
	However, we are concerned that the conditions for returning IDPs are often poor and humanitarian access for UN agencies and NGOs to assist this population remains restricted. The UK Government continue to press the Government of Sri Lanka for humanitarian access to all returning IDPs as a priority. I refer my hon. Friend to my written ministerial statement to the House on 24 November 2009,  Official Report, columns 61-63WS.

Basildon and Thurrock University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  when he was first informed of the high standardised mortality rates at Basildon and Thurrock NHS Foundation Trust; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  how many reports he has received of high standardised mortality rates in the last 12 months; and to which hospitals such reports related.

Mark Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for Health on what date his Department was first informed of the high standardised mortality rates at Basildon and Thurrock University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

Mike O'Brien: Hospital Standardised Mortality Rates have been published on the NHS Choices website since April 2009 and are normally updated monthly. However, it can take several months to verify and check the raw data before it can be used reliably and placed on the website.
	In addition, the Care Quality Commission alerts individual national health statistics organisations to high specialty mortality ratios and they can then pursue any issue arising with the NHS organisation concerned until it is satisfactorily resolved. The Department does not routinely receive reports of high specialty mortality ratios on open cases at individual trusts.
	My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State made an oral statement about Basildon and Thurrock NHS Foundation Trust in the House on 30 November 2009,  Official Report, column 855.

NHS: Cost Effectiveness

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what key efficiency gains are under consideration in the national health service in order to provide resources for front line services.

Mike O'Brien: The national health service locally and regionally is best placed to identify savings based on their circumstances and priorities. However, NHS staff have told us that they need support to make these changes. Drawing on the available evidence and on the ideas and experience of frontline staff, we will back major programmes of work to support commissioners and providers. These programmes will be locally led, but will have national support, and will ensure that innovation is spread rapidly.
	As part of these programmes, we are exploring a number of areas under the HM Treasury-led Public Value Programme, including:
	commissioning;
	tariff;
	estates;
	long term conditions; and
	community services.
	We are also working actively with our arms length bodies, NHS organisations and others including HM Treasury and the Shareholder Executive to implement the recommendations of the Operational Efficiency Programme. Rather than initiating new projects, in many areas this builds upon significant progress made by the Department and the NHS in recent years. For example, the establishment of NHS Shared Business Services, which is now delivering shared back office services for over 100 NHS organisations.

NHS: Information and Communications Technology

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  pursuant to the pre-Budget report, Cm 7747, what discussions his Department has had with  (a) HM Treasury and  (b) suppliers to the National Programme for IT on changes to the National Programme for IT budgets; and on what dates such meetings took place;
	(2)  what discussions he has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the National Programme for IT and the front line of the NHS.

Mike O'Brien: Since its inception, the Department has consulted and communicated with its national health service stakeholders, including clinicians, senior NHS managers and information management and technology staff, and the medical professional representative and health regulatory bodies, on a frequent and regular basis about all aspects of the NHS information technology programme. My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State has also often discussed issues relating to the programme in his regular meetings with the Chancellor.
	As part of the current Government-wide drive to find efficiency savings and better value for money on major projects, officials are holding ongoing discussions with the Treasury, and with suppliers, about how these might be generated in relation to the national programme.

Obesity: Surgery

Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many non-UK citizens received gastric band surgery in hospitals and clinics in England and Wales in 2008.

Gillian Merron: The information is not available in the form requested. The NHS Information Centre does not collect information relating to activities in Wales, nor is information recorded on patients who are non-UK citizens. However, information is collected on a patients' place of residence.
	Data for 2008-09 shows that there were four finished consultant episodes for non-UK resident patients who received gastric band surgery in hospitals and clinics in England.
	 Note:
	The NHS Information Centre do not collect data relating to Wales. Data is provided relating to activities in English NHS hospitals and English NHS commissioned activity in the independent sector.
	 Hospital Episodes Statistics (HES)
	Record details on residence (i.e. where the patient is living) rather than citizenship. Non-UK residence does not imply non-UK citizenship, for example, a UK citizen might be resident in France.
	 Finished Consultant Episode (FCE)
	A FCE is defined as a continuous period of admitted patient care under one consultant within one health care provider. FCEs are counted against the year in which they end. The figures do not represent the number of different patients, as a person may have more than one episode of care within the same stay in hospital or in different stays in the same year.
	 Number of episodes with a (named) main or secondary procedure
	The figure represents the number of episodes where the procedure (or intervention) was recorded in any of the 24 operative procedure fields in a HES record. A record is only included once in each count, even if the procedure is recorded in more than one operative procedure field of the record. More procedures are carried out than episodes with a main or secondary procedure. For example, patients undergoing a 'cataract operation' would tend to have at least two procedures-removal of the faulty lens and the fitting of a new one-counted in a single episode.
	 OPCS 4.4 codes
	The OPCS 4.4 codes used for gastric band surgery are:
	G30.3-Partitioning of stomach using band (Insertion of a gastric band)
	G38.7-Removal of gastric band (Removal of a gastric band)
	The code G30.8 (Other specified plastic operations on stomach-Adjustment of gastric band) has not been included owing to the fact that though the code may include the adjustment of a gastric band, it is not limited to that procedure.
	 Data quality
	HES are compiled from data sent by over 300 NHS trusts and primary care trusts (PCTs) in England. Data is also received from a number of independent sector organisations for activity commissioned by the English NHS. The NHS Information Centre for health and social care liaises closely with these organisations to encourage submission of complete and valid data and seeks to minimise inaccuracies and the effect of missing and invalid data via HES processes. While this brings about improvement over time, some shortcomings remain.
	 Source:
	Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), The NHS Information Centre for health and social care

Pupils: Assessment

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what qualifications are equivalent to one or more GCSE passes; and if he will make a statement.

Vernon Coaker: holding answer 5 January 2010
	All level 2 qualifications approved under section 96 of the Learning and Skills Act (2000) contribute towards the reported performance of pupils at key stage 4 in obtaining GCSEs and equivalent qualifications.
	An exhaustive list of equivalent qualifications and the size of their contributions to the five A*-C grade GCSE or equivalent threshold can be found at QCDA's National Database of Accredited Qualifications website at:
	http://www.accreditedqualifications.org.uk
	in the "performance measures" section under the entry for each qualification.

Young Offenders

David Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many reparation orders relating to those aged  (a) 10 or 11,  (b) 12 to 14 and  (c) 15 to 17 years old have been (i) given and (ii) breached in each year since 1997.

Dawn Primarolo: The information is as follows:
	(i) The following tables show the number of reparation orders that have been given to young people by courts.
	The presented data are broken down by financial years and by the following age groups:  (a) 10 and 11,  (b) 12 to 14 and  (c) 15 to 17-years-old.
	(ii) The Youth Justice Board does not hold the data on number of breaches in relation to reparation orders.
	Complete data prior to financial year 2000/01 is not held by the YJB. Reparation orders were only introduced in pilot areas from 1998 and nationally from 2000.
	
		
			   Reparation Orders 
			   10-11  12-14  5-17  Total 
			 2000-01 169 1,954 4,166 6,289 
			 2001-02 230 2,875 5,524 8,629 
			 2002-03 60 1,075 3,083 4,218 
			 2003-04 39 938 2,791 3,768 
			 2004-05 43 1,038 2,554 3,635 
			 2005-06 36 1,201 2,802 4,039 
			 2006-07 36 1,234 3,360 4,630 
			 2007-08 42 1,275 3,691 5,008 
			 Total 655 11,590 27,971 40,216 
		
	
	These figures have been drawn from administrative IT systems, which, as with any large scale recording system, are subject to possible errors with data entry and processing and may be subject to change overtime.

Departmental Training

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many overseas training courses were attended by his Department's civil servants in the latest period for which figures are available; how many civil servants attended each course; and what the total cost to the public purse was of each course.

Joan Ruddock: Information regarding training is not held centrally therefore to provide a response would entail a disproportionate cost.

Departmental Training

Graham Stuart: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many  (a) away days and  (b) conferences that took place outside his Department's building attended by civil servants in his Department there have been since 2005; and what the cost was of each.

Joan Ruddock: The information requested is not available centrally and could only be made available at disproportional cost.

Energy Efficiency Schemes

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change 
	(1)  what plans he has for the future of his Department's energy efficiency and lowest rate tariff schemes;
	(2)  what his most recent assessment is of the relationship between the performance of energy supply companies in meeting their obligations under his Department's energy efficiency and lowest rate tariff schemes and their market share;
	(3)  what estimate he has made of the  (a) number and  (b) percentage of households which have received assistance from each energy supply company under his Department's energy efficiency and lowest rate tariff schemes; and what the cost to his Department of each such scheme has been to date.

Joan Ruddock: DECC set out the future of its energy efficiency schemes in the Low Carbon Transition Plan published July 2009, this included extending the Carbon Emissions Reduction Target (CERT) (an obligation on energy suppliers to meet household carbon saving targets) to the end of 2012 before moving to a new framework post 2012. A consultation on the CERT extension will be published before Christmas and further details on delivery arrangements post 2012 will be published early in the new year.
	The CERT is a GB-wide carbon saving obligation on energy suppliers so it is delivered at no cost to DECC. Ofgem reported in July 2009 that suppliers had made good progress towards their targets having achieved the following percentage savings against their individual obligations (the overall target is 185 million tonnes of lifetime CO2 savings) by the end of the first year of CERT:
	
		
			   Percentage 
			 British Gas 54 
			 EDF Energy 56 
			 Npower 30 
			 E.ON 55 
			 Scottish and Southern Energy 49 
			 Scottish Power 56 
		
	
	Reporting is by measure and not by household. Together, suppliers delivered a significant number of energy efficiency measures by the end of the first year of CERT including around 850,000 cavity wall insulation jobs, almost 1.5 million loft Insulation jobs, 40,000 solid wall insulation jobs and some 200 million compact fluorescent lights.
	The Community Energy Saving Programme (CESP) only commenced in September 2009, no households have yet received assistance. CESP runs to December 2012 and it is estimated that 90,000 households will benefit.
	In the 2008 Budget the Chancellor announced an increase in suppliers' collective expenditure on their voluntary social programmes to at least £100 million in 2008-09, £125 million in 2009-10 rising to £150 million by 2011. Energy supplier's social tariffs are delivered at no cost to the Government.
	Ofgem monitors the suppliers' social programmes on behalf of Government. In its latest report on suppliers' social programmes, published in August 2009, Ofgem confirmed that suppliers have each met the first year spend target as set by Government and that suppliers' collective expenditure totalled £157 million, which exceeded the Government set target for the first year of the agreement by 57 per cent. £130 million of this collective total expenditure was attributable to social tariffs. This report also detailed the number of customer accounts benefiting from a social tariff and the total savings to customers of these tariffs, per supplier, as at 31 March 2009. A copy of this report can be found online at:
	http://www.ofgem.gov.uk/Sustainability/SocAction/Suppliers/CSR/Documents1/Monitoring_suppliers_social_spend_2008_09_final.pdf
	The initial findings report of Ofgem's energy supply probe gave a snapshot of the total number of customer accounts per supplier, as at June 2008. A copy of the energy market probe initial findings report can be found online at:
	http://www.ofgem.gov.uk/Markets/RetMkts/ensuppro/Documents1/Energy%20Supply%20Probe%20-%20Initial%20Findings%20Report.pdf
	According to these reports the total savings to customers during 2008-09, customer accounts on a social tariff as at 31 March 2009 and total electricity and gas customers per supplier as at June 2008 is reported as:
	
		
			  Supplier  Energy type  Total savings to customers (£ million)  Total customer accounts on a social tariff as at 31 March 2009  Total customer accounts as at June 2008  Percentage of customer accounts on a social tariff( 1) 
			 British Gas Electricity - 193,148 6,038,464 - 
			  Gas - 323,131 9,762,950 - 
			  Total 77.4 516,279 15,801,414 (2)3.3 
			   
			 EDF Energy Electricity - 99,073 3,605,090 - 
			  Gas - 45,939 1,602,369 - 
			  Total 8.8 145,012 5,207,459 2.8 
			   
			 E.ON Electricity - 25,447 4,922,100 - 
			  Gas - 23,608 2,913,408 - 
			  Dual Fuel - 2,826 - - 
			  Total 15.65 51,881 7,835,508 0.7 
			   
			 Npower Electricity - 65,251 4,047,020 - 
			  Gas - 48,585 2,553,340 - 
			  Total 12.28 113,836 6,600,360 1.7 
			   
			 Scottish Power Electricity - 45,519 3,217,808 - 
			  Gas - 29,003 1,919,852 - 
			  Total 1.5 74,522 5,137,660 1.5 
			   
			 SSE Electricity - 64,661 5,255,087 - 
			  Gas - - 3,255,123 - 
			  Dual Fuel - 38,279 - - 
			  Total 14.87 102,940 8,510,210 1.2 
			   
			 Total Electricity - 493,099 27,085,569 - 
			  Gas - 470,266 22,007,042 - 
			  Dual Fuel - 41,105 - - 
			  Total 130 1,004,470 49,014,084 2 
			 (1) As data for social tariffs and total customer accounts are not as at the same period of time these percentages should be treated as approximate. (2) As Ofgem report on electricity, gas and dual fuel customer accounts on a social tariff in their social programmes report and on electricity and gas customer accounts in their the energy supply probe, initial findings report, we have only provided the percentage of total customer accounts per supplier on social tariff. 
		
	
	The Low Carbon Transition Plan also included an announcement that we will introduce social price support when the voluntary agreement ends in March 2011. We have since introduced clauses on social price support as part of the Energy Bill. We also announced in the pre-Budget report that we would require energy suppliers to make £300 million available per year by 2013-14 for social price support. This is double what they have agreed to provide in the final year of the voluntary agreement.

Feed-in Tariffs

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what assessment he has made of the likely effect of his Department's proposed Feed-in-Tariffs scheme on the development of the UK's renewable industry sector.

David Kidney: Effects of the Feed-in Tariffs (FITs) scheme have been identified in the impact assessment published on July 15 2009:
	http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/consultations/elec_financial/elec_financial.aspx
	This includes an assessment of the expected level of uptake under the lead FITs scenario (approximately 8TWh electricity in 2020 and approximately 870,000 installations by 2020).
	The introduction of FITs should significantly increase the scale and scope of the GB market for small-scale renewable energy technologies and ancillary products compared to the status quo. UK manufacturing firms and product installers will benefit directly from this increase in demand. An increase in the uptake of certain technologies, such as small wind, where the UK has a manufacturing base, will create a particularly positive impact on job creation. Installations will also require maintenance and servicing which may have a positive impact on jobs. Overall, FITs are expected to boost business and employment opportunities in developing and deploying renewable energy technologies. These impacts have not been quantified.

Feed-in Tariffs

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what assessment he has made of the likely effect of his Department's proposed Feed-in-Tariffs scheme on  (a) energy sector competition and  (b) supplier diversity by (i) 2020 and (ii) 2030.

David Kidney: The impact on small electricity suppliers has been taken into account during policy development in order that they are not disproportionately impacted. Furthermore, the introduction of feed-in-tariffs should significantly increase the scale and scope of the GB market for small-scale renewable energy technologies and ancillary products. UK manufacturing firms will benefit directly from this increase in demand, and market growth should increase competition effects, encouraging innovation, driving down prices and enhancing the global competitiveness of UK firms.
	No assessment has been made of the effect of feed-in-tariffs on supplier diversity.

Feed-in Tariffs

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what estimate his Department has made of electricity prices in 2020, excluding the cost of his Department's proposed Feed-in-Tariffs scheme.

David Kidney: Analysis for the low carbon transition plan estimates that the electricity price in 2020, excluding the proposed Feed-in-Tariffs scheme, to be around £161/MWh for the domestic sector (including VAT) and £127/MWh for medium industrial consumers.

Feed-in Tariffs

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what 2020 standard electricity price assumption Element Energy were asked to use for his Department's proposed Feed-in-Tariffs scheme modelling; and what the rationale was for this price assumption.

David Kidney: Electricity price assumptions used for the feed-in-tariffs (FITs) analysis are set out in the renewable energy strategy (RES) analytical annex which can be found at:
	http://decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/what_we_do/uk_supply/energy_mix/renewable/res/res.aspx
	Consistent electricity price assumptions were used to model all policies covered by the RES, including FITs.
	The following figures are taken from the various electricity price tables in the RES analytical annex:
	
		
			  Electricity 2020 p/kWh (2008 levels)  Domestic retail price  Commercial/  service price  Industrial price  Variable element (social cost) domestic  Variable element (social cost) commercial  Variable element (social cost) industrial 
			 Low energy demand 12.8 10.1 8.6 4.8 4.6 4.5 
			 Timely investment, moderate demand 16.4 13.4 11.9 8.1 7.9 7.8 
			 High demand, producers' market power 18.4 15.4 13.9 10.1 9.9 9.7 
			 High demand, significant supply constraints 20.6 17.4 15.9 11.5 11.3 11.1

Low Carbon Transition Plan

Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what discussions he has had with the devolved administrations to ensure co-ordination in implementation of the UK Low Carbon Transition Plan.

Joan Ruddock: Ministers and officials engage with the devolved Administrations on energy and climate change matters, particularly where there are implications for devolved policy or to ensure coordination and alignment of reserved matters with devolved policy. We also have a statutory obligation to consult the devolved Administrations on aspects relating to the Climate Change Act, including on setting the levels of the carbon budgets and targets under the Act, and preparing policies for meeting them.
	Since publication of the Low Carbon Transition Plan, this has included discussions between officials on renewable energy, heat and energy savings, the extension to the Carbon Emissions Reduction Target (CERT), Smart Meters and the Carbon Reduction Commitment (CRC) Energy Efficiency Scheme.

National Grid

Desmond Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change with which companies his Department has discussed the development of a smart grid in the last six months.

David Kidney: The Department has met with many companies to discuss Smart Grids over the last six months. This has included all distribution network operators, all transmission operators, ICT companies, a selection of electricity supply companies, equipment suppliers and relevant trade associations.

National Grid

Desmond Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change when he last met  (a) Ofcom and  (b) Ofgem to discuss the establishment of a smart grid; and if he will make a statement.

David Kidney: I have not met Ofcom or Ofgem to specifically discuss the establishment of a Smart Grid.

National Grid

Desmond Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what meetings with each stakeholder group he has had on the allocation of the bandwidth spectrum in respect of the development of a smart grid.

David Kidney: I have not had any meetings with any Stakeholder group's on the allocation of the bandwidth spectrum in respect of the development of a smart grid.